Since our earliest days, stories have been faithful companions, guiding us through life’s journey. The power of a good story lies in its ability to touch our hearts, inspiring us to grow and bring positive change to ourselves and the world around us. Stories shape our perspective, and in turn, our perspective shapes who we become.
Introducing Bodhi Light Tales by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, a monumental 6-volume set available in both English and Chinese. This enchanting collection invites readers to explore the profound teachings of the Buddha and the principles of Humanistic Buddhism. Stories centered around the Six Paramitas, also known as the Six Perfections: Generosity, Precept, Patience, Diligence, Meditative Concentration, and Wisdom. Each tale in this collection is accompanied by words of wisdom, offering profound insights that encourage reflection upon the moral lessons conveyed. These stories provide a mirror through which we can examine our own lives and contemplate how these timeless teachings can be applied to our daily existence.
In this third volume, you will immerse yourself in the realm of Patience through a treasury of 15 short stories. Designed to captivate readers of all ages, this book also includes vocabulary lists to assist bilingual readers in fully understanding the essence of each tale.
May Bodhi Light Tales illuminate your path as you explore the boundless possibilities of compassion, understanding, and generosity.
Venerable Master Hsing Yun was born in 1927 in Jiangdu, Jiangsu Province, China. At the age of 12, he was tonsured by Venerable Master Zhikai in Qixia Temple, Nanjing, with Dajue Temple in Yixing, Jiangsu, as his ancestral temple. He later became the 48th-generation lineage holder of the Linji Chan school. In 1947, he graduated from Jiaoshan Buddhist College, and also trained at various Chan, Pure Land, and Vinaya monasteries, including Jinshan, Qixia, and others. He received a comprehensive Buddhist education in the lineage, teachings, and Vinaya disciplines. Later on, the Venerable Master was invited to serve as the principal of Baita Elementary School, and also the editor-in-chief of Raging Billows Monthly.
In the spring of 1949, the Venerable Master arrived in Taiwan. He served as the editor-in-chief of Human Life Magazine, Buddhism Today Magazine, and Awakening the World.
In 1967, the Venerable Master founded the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Order, with the Four Objectives: to propagate the Dharma through culture; to foster talents through education; to benefit society through charity, and to purify people’s minds through spiritual cultivation. Guided by the principles of Humanistic Buddhism, he went on to establish over three hundred temples worldwide. Additionally, he oversaw the creation of various art galleries, libraries, publishing companies, bookstores, the Merit Times newspaper, and the Cloud and Water Mobile Clinic. Furthermore, he established sixteen Buddhist colleges and founded three high schools and five universities, including the University of the West in the United States, Fo Guang University in Taiwan, Nanhua University in Taiwan, Nan Tien Institute in Australia, and Guang Ming College in the Philippines. Notably, he also established the Institute of Humanistic Buddhism.
In 1970, the Venerable Master established Da Ci Children’s Home and the Lanyang Ren Ai Senior Citizen’s Home, providing shelter and care for vulnerable young children, and elderly individuals. He also actively engaged in emergency relief efforts, contributing to the fostering of a welfare society. Then, in 1991, he founded the Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) and was elected as the President of the World Headquarters. Under his guidance, the association’s mission expanded, symbolized by the saying, “the Buddha’s Light shining over three thousand realms, and the Dharma water flowing continuously through the five continents.”
In 1977, the Fo Guang Buddhist Canon, the Fo Guang Dictionary of Buddhism, and the 132-volume Selected Chinese Buddhist Texts in Modern Language were compiled. In 2017, the Complete Works of Venerable Master Hsing Yun was published, comprising 365 volumes with over 30 million words. In 2023, it was supplemented to 395 volumes, exceeding 40 million words, systematically expounding the ideologies, teachings, theories, and practical outcomes of Humanistic Buddhism.
In 2023, the Venerable Master peacefully passed away, his virtuous deeds complete and fulfilled, having reached the age of ninety-seven. He was revered as the Founding Master of the Fo Guang Order, and he left behind this poignant poem:
A mind with the compassionate vow to deliver sentient beings,
A body like a boat on the Dharma ocean, unbound.
Should you ask what I have achieved in this lifetime?
Peace and happiness shine upon the five continents.
目錄
Bodhi Light Tales:Volume 3
Biography of Venerable Master Hsing Yun 星雲大師簡介
Editor’s Introduction 編者序
How to Use This Book 如何使用本書
Stories
01. Cookie Fight 夫妻爭餅
02. The Turtle and the Cranes 龜與雁
03. The Two-Headed Bird 優波迦嘍嗏的瞋恨
04. The Crow’s Caw 烏鴉的聲音
05. Quit Anger 容易發怒
06. Tailor-Made 胖子學裁縫
07. The Unacceptable Gift 不收禮物
08. The Buddha and the Gong 大佛與大磬
09. Hasty Conclusion 不要衝動
10. Seeking Nothing 一無所求
11. “Water Drop” Monk 滴水和尚
12. Up in Flames 火燒城
13. The Speeding Consequence 野狼150 CC
14. The Little Novice and the Ants 長壽的沙彌
15. Embracing Patience 忍辱的美德
Bodhi Light Tales is a captivating 6-volume collection of stories focused on the Six Paramitas, narrated by the revered Venerable Master Hsing Yun. Originally published in Chinese as Xingyun shuoyu (星雲說喻), these Buddhist Tales by Venerable Master Hsing Yun emerged from his enlightening talks and lectures on Humanistic Buddhism. In 2019, we took the initiative to adapt these stories into English as an ongoing audiobook series for the Bodhi Light Tales Anchor Podcast channel. However, our ultimate vision has always been to present them in a book format. As the original stories were concise and lacked additional details, the English adaptations were intentionally modified from the Chinese. In essence, the English tales are not direct translations of their original Chinese counterparts. To ensure that readers of all ages, faiths, beliefs, and cultures can connect with these stories, we employed several key approaches during the transition from Chinese to English, which we will elaborate on below.
To make the main characters more relatable, we added background information such as their names, occupations, and personalities. Thorough research was conducted to maintain historical and factual accuracy. We hope this additional information will help readers delve deeper into their favorite characters and even encourage further exploration.
Additionally, we made certain adaptations to accommodate language differences. For instance, in one of the stories, one single plane mentioned at first transformed into eleven planes, and in the end, ninety-one planes. In the English version, we changed it to nine planes as mentioned initially, later becoming nineteen planes, and finally, ninety planes. These modifications were implemented to preserve the example of homophones originally featured, ensuring comprehension for English readers.
Each tale concludes with a summary of its morals, providing readers with a clear understanding of the story’s meaning and key lessons. These summaries highlight challenges people face in today’s world and offer practical applications for daily life.
Additionally, we included Dharma Words from Venerable Master Hsing Yun at the end of each story, offering readers a final nugget of wisdom to take away. These quotes were carefully selected based on their relevance to the moral of each story. Venerable Master Hsing Yun originally shared these words of encouragement and advice based on his life experiences, aiming to inspire mindfulness and guide individuals in times of uncertainty.
Remember, Buddha-nature resides within all of us, regardless of whether we practice Buddhism or not. Both children and adults have the power to better themselves and positively impact the world around them. Our sincere hope is that these stories will inspire people of all ages, instilling in them a sense of inspiration, courage, and compassion. May this collection serve as a source of inspiration as you navigate through life’s journey toward self-awakening!
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