Story to illustrate the Heart Centre

This story comes from a Native American Indian Chief named Calling Horse.  He speaks about the importance of the Heart Centre to the people of his tribe.  The heart centre can be felt when we experience strong feelings of love, and in a negative way when we lose a person or an animal that we love.

Making a heart connection to a new camp

In the days when we, a nomadic people, traversed the plains, we found it very easy to set up camp and make a home where-ever we found ourselves. Sometimes it would be in a beautiful valley with river running and plenty of trees for shade. Sometimes it was in the wide open plains. We were very aware of our energy centres in those days, and when a place felt good to stay at for a while, the chief would gather the tribe around him. He would place his hand on his heart, look up to the heavens and then stamp his feet on the earth and say:

“In this place we are well connected. I feel the energy running from my head through my heart. I feel the energy running from the earth through my feet to my heart. This place I love. It will be good for us. Let us stay a while.”  Then we would stay.

In such places where the energies felt good, we would all feel happy and settled. Our hearts would warm to each other and to our animals. Our hearts would warm to the place we were in, to the trees and the plants and animals. The song masters in the tribe would meditate and make up songs about the place we were in. They were actually listening to folk who had lived there before and who had happy memories of those places, whose heart centres had opened and glowed in those self same places.

When it was time to move on (as we were a restless people), we would sing those songs to remind us of the lovely times we had had, and again we would feel the glow in our hearts.
That is the job of the heart centre: to connect us with our surroundings that God has provided; to connect us to each other and to the Great Spirit himself who is always with us, watching and caring. His almighty heart centre must be bigger than the earth and sky itself!

To find an explanation of the Heart Centre  and other energy centres

or ‘chakras’, click on this link

http://yogastories.co.uk and go to the contents page and find ‘guidance on chakras’ at the end of the contents section.

Law 6, You must not commit murder (Laws of Life, North American Indian Tradition)

A story from Calling Horse

You must nor commit murder

When I was a young man and had performed my initiation into adulthood, I was one of number of young braves who learnt together and who went through the rites and ceremonies together. We were a happy band with one exception. There was a young man who always seemed to have a cloud hanging over him. He came from a family which had lost their father . Their mother had had to bring up the children herself and had not had any support from a man. She had four young sons who used to argue a great deal and jostle for position in the family. Three of them were similar in age, two of them were twins, and the cloudy brave was one year younger. He always felt aggrieved that the twins seemed to have all the power in his household, and he had none.

One day the twins had gone hunting and had come back with nothing. Dark Water had managed to catch a small deer by himself. They had stolen it from him and had taken it as their quarry to show their mother, She always sided with them, and insulted our cloudy brave. He was mortally offended.

Dark Water went away to brood on his hatred. He disappeared for several days. His brothers felt guilty about what had happened and after much questioning from their mother, they admitted what they had done. Their mother turned pale.
“How could you treat your brother thus? This is not the way of the Great Spirit, to steal his glory to cover up your own failure. Shame! Go and find him, and don’t come back until you do.”

The twins set off to look for Dark Water. Their hearts were heavy, they knew he was a deeply resentful character. They wondered about their own safety. Perhaps he would kill one or both of them when he saw them. They realised that over the years they had given him enough cause for resentment, and now finally they had begun to regret it.

“But surely our brother would never kill us!” said one

“Why not? He has nothing to lose if he has decided to leave the tribe anyway.”

“Do you really think he would?”

“I would not blame him if he did. We have dishonoured him. We have cheated him.”

“When we see him how are we going to know what is in his heart?”

“Whatever it is it will not be good.”

“Do you think we should kill him first, so that he cannot kills us?”

“Well, it would solve the problem.  He would not come back and brood and threaten us like he always does.”

“But what if he does not plan to kill us and we kill him?”

“Then we will have to pay the penalty to the Great Spirit.”

The two continued in this vein as they traversed the countryside. No sign was to be seen of their brother. Further and further they went, looking for foot prints, for campfires, for signs of blood from a killing. They found nothing.
They decided to return, their fear beginning to lessen. Perhaps they would not have to face this dreadful decision to kill or be killed. They returned to camp. The twins found their mother very distraught.

“I have had a terrible dream.” she said. “I dreamt that you two killed your brother and returned, saying nothing to me. Then you went off on a hunting expedition, and you were both shot by the hunters’ arrows. What does all this mean? We must ask the chief.” The little family went to the chief and explained shamefacedly what had happened. The twins did not divulge their conversation about killing their brother. They were by now very frightened young men.

The chief sat quietly for some minutes with his eyes closed. Finally, “Yes,” he said, “I can see your brother. He is hiding in a tree just outside the camp. His heart is full of sorrow. He does not want to return to a loveless home where he is not appreciated, but he does not want to leave the tribe. What are you going to do about it?”  He looked directly at the twins.  They hung their heads in shame, greatly relieved that they had not actually killed their brother, and that their mother’s vision had only been a dream. They were very glad of the chance to make amends.

He is hiding in a tree just outside the camp

The family walked round the camp, calling their brother encouraging him to appear. Finally he emerged looking tired and drawn.
His mother enfolded him in her arms and begged forgiveness for neglecting him and for indulging the twins. The twins handed him their best weapons, a beautiful bow and a tomahawk, in recompense for their bad treatment of him. The youngest boy, just a child, held his brother’s hand as they all returned to the camp. The Great Spirit had saved them from the abomination of committing murder; never again did they harbour such black thoughts in their hearts.

A COMMENT BY CALLING HORSE

There was no controversy amongst those who knew it was wrong to kill any one you knew, but when it came to territorial struggles, or power struggles with other tribes, and blood was shed, who was in the right? Was ‘might’ right, or did the ‘ meek inherit the earth’? Of course we did not have your Bible, or your way of doing things. Might, in general, was right, but most tribes were not pugnacious. They were peace loving and respected the lives of all people whether they were of their own tribe or not.

This blog is a collection of short stories which can be used to teach children aspects of social and moral education. You will also find therapeutic stories to help with life’s difficulties, for both adults and children.

Please click on ‘select category’ on the left side of this blog to find the category of stories you are looking for. Click on the subject you choose and the stories will appear. Please look at my new blog Rays of Light for stories inspired by the Old Testament. (Nov 2009)

Missing the Train (A story on punctuality for teenagers)

Missing the train

Sally put her hair in a pile on top of her head. She fixed it quickly.  It would have to do.  There was no time for fiddling about. There was a train to catch, a ten-minute walk to catch it, and she was running late.  It happened so often that she was sick of it.  Why did she do it?  She had an alarm clock, she set it, it rang, she switched it off and went back to sleep.  If it weren’t for her neighbour slamming the car door she would still be asleep.

 

Sally dashed round the flat: bag, raincoat, bottle of drink, bag of crisps, banana, that would have to do.  She raced down the outside steps.  Had she locked the front door?  She couldn’t remember.  She’d have to check.  Up the stairs, check the door, not locked.  Lock door, go.  Sally flew along the road.  She hated running in the rain.  Her coat flapped round her legs.  Eight minutes to go.

 

Mike grunted as his repeater alarm started up for the second time.  Better get up.  He mentally planned what he had to do before leaving the house.  He liked to have plenty of time.  He hated to rush.  As he showered he recalled that it would be Sally’s birthday tomorrow.  Must remember to get her something worthwhile, something that would remind her of him, and a treat as well, perhaps a box of chocolates.

 

Mike’s clean clothes lay on the chair where he had put them the night before.  He dressed quickly and went downstairs.  While he ate his breakfast he watched the news – not very interesting today.  His mind turned to Sally – crazy girl, but he couldn’t help liking her.  What on earth could he get to give her tomorrow?

 

Mike took food out of the fridge: cheese, cucumber, tomato, bread.  He made his lunch plus an extra sandwich for Sally in case he was going to be lucky enough to see her today.  He checked his teeth in the mirror after brushing out the breakfast bits.  OK, everything was OK.  He slammed the front door and locked it.

 

Ten minutes to catch the train.  No problem.  It was raining but he didn’t mind, at least it was warm.  Mike arrived at the station with three minutes to spare.  Good.  He looked around hoping to see Sally.  She was not always there; sometimes she got a lift from a mate at work.  The train pulled in.  Doors opened, Mike stepped onboard.  In the distance he could see a blond head bobbing up and down.  A girl was running, her arms flailing about trying to pull her coat back on, her hair flying around her face.  The train started to pull away; Mike stood up and peered through the wet window.  It was Sally.  She had missed the train, she’d have to catch the bus and be late for work again.  Mike sighed.  Bosses don’t like it when you come in late.  Sally had told him some of the excuses she had made up:

 

“My hot water bottle burst just as I was getting out of bed and I had to drag the mattress over to the radiator. It made me late.”

 

“My next door neighbours cat rushed in as I was going out and I couldn’t find it.  It was hiding in my linen basket,” and so on.

 

 Her excuses were wearing a bit thin.  Her job might be on the line.  Mike felt his stomach tighten.  If she lost her job maybe he would never see her again.  After all they had only ever chatted on the train.  Then he remembered the birthday.  She had mentioned it in passing the previous day.  He had a brain wave.  He’d get her a repeater alarm clock like his.  It starts quietly and when you switch it off it lets you snooze for three minutes then it comes on again, only louder, and it keeps doing that until you get up and switch it off properly. 

 

He would get one in his lunch break and give it to her after work that very day.  She’d have no excuse then.  She’d have to get up on time.  She said her mum used to get her up when she was living at home, but now in the flat she was independent and although it was great, it wasn’t easy.

 

Sally grinned sheepishly as she stepped on to the train home.  There was Mike waiting for her.  He had saved her a seat.  He offered her sandwich; he had kept that too just in case. 

 

” Ooh, ta, I’m starving.  I didn’t stop for lunch – I was late in – missed the train again.  My boss was mad.  He said ‘Once more and you ‘re fired!’  What am I going to do?”

 

“You are going to take this birthday present and never be late again!” said Mike triumphantly.

 

“You haven’t gone and bought me a birthday present, Mike.  No you shouldn’t.  When I said it I didn’t mean….”

 

“I know, I know, but I saw you this morning flying along in the rain and I thought this just might come in handy.”

 

Sally opened the small parcel.  There was a little pink plastic alarm clock with a button on the top, which was made to look like a woman’s face with a big smile on it.  Underneath, the word MUM stood out below the clock hands.

 

“It’s a repeater – it will keep coming on until you get up!” Mike grinned.

 

“Oh, Mike, thanks, it’s the perfect present.”  Sally touched his arm and Mike felt himself blushing.  “Now I’ll be able to be on time for the train everyday.  Remember to save a seat for me won’t you?”

 

Mike grinned, “Of course!”

 

 

Possible Questions:

 

1.       What do you think is the most important message in this story?

 

2.      Does this story remind you of anything in your life?

 

3.      How do you feel when you are late up and there isn’t enough time to do what needs to be done?

 

4.      How do you feel when you have plenty of time in the mornings?

 

5.      What is it like to miss breakfast?

 

6.      What do people look and feel like when they haven’t cleaned their teeth or washed themselves before they leave home to go to College or work?

 

7.      How do you feel about people who always look clean and tidy and who smell fresh?  Is that you?

 

8.      How could you improve on what you do in the mornings to make yourself feel better during the day?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introducing Guptananda

Welcome. I’m Teresa. I plan to put my stories on this blog. I hope you enjoy reading them. If you do you might like to go to my website yogastories.co.uk (not online quite yet, very soon I hope) to find a complete book of stories on many of the most important subjects taught in Yoga Philosophy. I write about other subjects too, and you will find different stories under the different categories in my blog. I’d love to hear any thoughts you may have. Click on the word ‘comment’ below each post to get in touch or share your thoughts. For the time being here is a short introduction to my background.

My General Background
I live in the UK with my partner where I work as a special needs teacher in a college of Further Education. I’m also a mother of two grown sons, a grandmother to two little girls, a qualified yoga teacher, psychotherapist and counsellor. I also embrace other forms of healing including Bach Remedies, essential oils, and crystals. In my spare time I tend our allotment.

The Stories
In 1995 an amazing thing happened. A spirit guide, Guptananda, came to me during a meditation when I was asking for help to teach my yoga classes. Although I hadn’t realised it, I had met him once before in a meditation circle when I asked for help in understanding New Age material. I was taken up into a blue sky and across to the continent of India. I travelled across the snowcapped Himalayan Mountains, to a cave, inside was a guru. He told me that I didn’t need to read that material, but told me instead to read the Vedas, Upanishads and the Bhagvad Gita, and that I would find all the answers I needed there. I read them once before as part of my training to become a yoga teacher. He appeared again while I was meditating, in response to my request for help with teaching my yoga classes. Answers came in the form of two stories which I wrote down immediately. I was so amazed I wondered if he’d give me more stories. He said “There’s no point in teaching people spiritual practices unless they are obeying the ‘laws of life’.” I couldn’t remember what they were myself and he sternly told me off! Then he told me not to worry, and that he would help me. He gave me a story on greed, then another on chastity. All his stories were about his own life. He told me he lived 400 years ago. The first yoga principles are the yamas and niyamas, the laws of life, similar to the 10 commandments. I’ve used these stories to help me to teach my students. The stories given via Guptananda offer the teachings of these principles in a very readable and acceptable format, suitable for both adults and children.

As time went on people began asking me to write stories. I discovered that other guides would also visit me to offer stories on other themes, for example therapeutic stories for my counselling clients and stories for Education In Human Values or for PHSE in schools and colleges I believe that these stories are wonderfully touching and totally relevant to today’s life. They have been a gift to me and I want to share them with other people. They are of particular relevance to those on the path of studying or teaching yoga, but are useful to people in all walks of life.

My website yogastories.co.uk  came online in April 2008. On it the whole collection of Guptananda’s stories is available.  Please click on the website link on my blog roll, left hand side of this page, at the bottom, or type the title into you address bar.  Thank you.