Six brothers and their search for meaning.
Six brothers and their search for meaning
A new story by Paschal Baute
November 22, 2006
Once there were six brothers, all born of the same father, named John, James, Gene, Jerry, Joe and Jerome. Actually there had been seven but one, Gerard, died when he was one month old of a congenital heart defect. All the brothers were different.
John, first born, always thought he was more special than the rest. Born on 3rd base and got there on his own. He expected things to come easy and when they didn’t began to experiment in drugs. First alcohol, then maryjoe, then crack cocaine. He tried treatment programs but never quite kicked his addictive habit for long.
James was the bright one who did well easily in school. He went to college and then to graduate school. He became a professor and wrote books.
Gene was the athletic one, very coordinated and quick. Four varsity letters his senior yeat in high school, football scholarship in college, where he broke passing receptions record and became an NFL pro and played on two championship teams.
Jerry was the one talented with money. He could turn a nickel into a dollar and a dollar into ten. He started his own business, soon had three and became rich by the time he was thirty five. .
Joe was the handsome brother. The girls, ladies and women all loved him, not only for his looks but also for his charm. He loved women, and loved courting and winning their hearts but there was always another feminine adventure waiting for him. He was the dance away lover.
Jerome was born with severe asthma, and his parents were up many nights of his young life, keeping him alive and he had a number of hospitalizations and barely survived. He learned to use his illness to get keep his parents hovering, to get his way, and get by, so he never really learned to focus or stay with anything.
The six brothers met yearly in a family re-union. Once the father overhead a conversation among them when they each agreed that Something was missing in their lives. He had worked very hard to support his family, often two jobs and by his 60s was worn out. When he began to have heart trouble he thought of a way to leave his sons something but also to remind them they were brothers and to help keep them together. He died suddenly when he was only 63. The oldest boy was 41 al the rest were in their 30s
When the will was read, it was found that the father left 10k to each son on one condition, that they undertake a trip together to discover what was missing in their lives. He added an extra 10k to the son who discovered first what was missing.
The sons were all competitive with each other and argued with the mother and the attorney but they were both firm and the conditions held. They had to decide what journey to undertake.
They remembered that the father had talked fondly of a Buddhist mond, Xuan Lie, whose writing he admired. They decided to visit this monk together and journeyed to Tibet where he lived.
When they met Xuan Lie, they were all talking without a pause, each presenting their own point of view, interrupting the other. After 40 minutes of this, Xuan Lie set a cup for tea in front of each, and took a large pitcher and begin to pour. He filled each cup to overflowing and keep on pouring til the tea ran over the table and onto their laps.
The brothers were stunned into silence. Finally one asked what does this mean?
The monk replied: you are each too full to receive anything.
There was a long silence. Finally the youngest, Jerome said, What should we do?
There was again a long long pause. Then Xuan Lie said: Stay in the monastery for one month and you will each discover your own answer. Then he smiled and said: But only one of you will do that?
They looked at each other. They were very competitive. They probably would not have stayed if not for his prediction that only one would last. They chose to accept his challenge. They were expected to work and pray with the monks, but had leisure time every evening.
Which four left first, in your opinion? And can you guess the order of leavning?
Joe the handsome lover began to look for a local beauty in the neigborhing village after four days, and he soon disappeared. Jerry the rich money manager decided he could not lose investment opportunities to expand his stash by staying where he had no access to stock market news and was convinced he discovered a new way to make another bundle. He left in ten days. James the professor exhausted the monastic library in a week and came up with a new research and book idea and had to get to a word processor and the internet to pursue this interest. Gene the athlete lasted the longest as his personal discipline was the strongest. For three weeks he worked out running the hills and vallies aournd the monastery daily, but finally decided he needed the fancy gym equipment to monitor his heart, etc. and left.
Could you say that each already had their own private heaven even though they could admit in saner moments that something was missing. The talk remained only talk for these four.
After 30 days, only John the addict and Jerome the asthmatic brother returned to the monk?
Why was it these two and not the other four?
Well, said the monk Xuan Lie, what is your answer?
John said I cannot believe how free I feel for the first time ever. I have not had a hit of anything for a month and my mind is incredibly clear and sharp. I feel really free for the first time in my life. Freedom from my use of drugs is my solution.
The youngest Jerome said. My breathing problems are surprisingly much better here. I ran out of medicine and discovered I can get along without it. Less stress, I suppose. I am breathing differently and feel more alive.
And? Said the monk, your answer to what is missing in your life? Perhaps freedom from stress?
Jerome said after a long thoughtful pause, No. Here is what it is. Every breath is a gift. I cannot count on the next one even here.. My little brother died after a month in this world. I will live with a grateful heart counting my blessings each day..
Then who deserves the final prize? Said the monk.
There was a pause. Then each brother pointed to the other and said My brother does. Each said to the other; You are more handicapped and more deserving.
The monk smiled. Then he said “You both deserve it. Perhaps you have discovered brotherly love. You can both take one half.
No, they argued, still competitive even in who was the most deserving and needy.
Finally they stopped arguing when they realized neither would yield, and turned to the monk and said. Master, then you decide.
The monk smiled again. He took out three tea cups, and filled each one half full .
They all sipped tea, and then he said.
Your cup is now just half full. This is better. Half is always better than full. Let us see whose answer is most sustaining for each of your lives.
What do you mean, they said? .
Return in ten years, the prize will be invested and will be doubled. But only one of you shall return.
They looked at each other and said at the same time, each sure of their solution, We agree.
They left. End of story.
Which in your opinion was the one who returned? Why did the other not return?
Discussion
Copyright, Paschal Baute. 2006.
A new story by Paschal Baute
November 22, 2006
Once there were six brothers, all born of the same father, named John, James, Gene, Jerry, Joe and Jerome. Actually there had been seven but one, Gerard, died when he was one month old of a congenital heart defect. All the brothers were different.
John, first born, always thought he was more special than the rest. Born on 3rd base and got there on his own. He expected things to come easy and when they didn’t began to experiment in drugs. First alcohol, then maryjoe, then crack cocaine. He tried treatment programs but never quite kicked his addictive habit for long.
James was the bright one who did well easily in school. He went to college and then to graduate school. He became a professor and wrote books.
Gene was the athletic one, very coordinated and quick. Four varsity letters his senior yeat in high school, football scholarship in college, where he broke passing receptions record and became an NFL pro and played on two championship teams.
Jerry was the one talented with money. He could turn a nickel into a dollar and a dollar into ten. He started his own business, soon had three and became rich by the time he was thirty five. .
Joe was the handsome brother. The girls, ladies and women all loved him, not only for his looks but also for his charm. He loved women, and loved courting and winning their hearts but there was always another feminine adventure waiting for him. He was the dance away lover.
Jerome was born with severe asthma, and his parents were up many nights of his young life, keeping him alive and he had a number of hospitalizations and barely survived. He learned to use his illness to get keep his parents hovering, to get his way, and get by, so he never really learned to focus or stay with anything.
The six brothers met yearly in a family re-union. Once the father overhead a conversation among them when they each agreed that Something was missing in their lives. He had worked very hard to support his family, often two jobs and by his 60s was worn out. When he began to have heart trouble he thought of a way to leave his sons something but also to remind them they were brothers and to help keep them together. He died suddenly when he was only 63. The oldest boy was 41 al the rest were in their 30s
When the will was read, it was found that the father left 10k to each son on one condition, that they undertake a trip together to discover what was missing in their lives. He added an extra 10k to the son who discovered first what was missing.
The sons were all competitive with each other and argued with the mother and the attorney but they were both firm and the conditions held. They had to decide what journey to undertake.
They remembered that the father had talked fondly of a Buddhist mond, Xuan Lie, whose writing he admired. They decided to visit this monk together and journeyed to Tibet where he lived.
When they met Xuan Lie, they were all talking without a pause, each presenting their own point of view, interrupting the other. After 40 minutes of this, Xuan Lie set a cup for tea in front of each, and took a large pitcher and begin to pour. He filled each cup to overflowing and keep on pouring til the tea ran over the table and onto their laps.
The brothers were stunned into silence. Finally one asked what does this mean?
The monk replied: you are each too full to receive anything.
There was a long silence. Finally the youngest, Jerome said, What should we do?
There was again a long long pause. Then Xuan Lie said: Stay in the monastery for one month and you will each discover your own answer. Then he smiled and said: But only one of you will do that?
They looked at each other. They were very competitive. They probably would not have stayed if not for his prediction that only one would last. They chose to accept his challenge. They were expected to work and pray with the monks, but had leisure time every evening.
Which four left first, in your opinion? And can you guess the order of leavning?
Joe the handsome lover began to look for a local beauty in the neigborhing village after four days, and he soon disappeared. Jerry the rich money manager decided he could not lose investment opportunities to expand his stash by staying where he had no access to stock market news and was convinced he discovered a new way to make another bundle. He left in ten days. James the professor exhausted the monastic library in a week and came up with a new research and book idea and had to get to a word processor and the internet to pursue this interest. Gene the athlete lasted the longest as his personal discipline was the strongest. For three weeks he worked out running the hills and vallies aournd the monastery daily, but finally decided he needed the fancy gym equipment to monitor his heart, etc. and left.
Could you say that each already had their own private heaven even though they could admit in saner moments that something was missing. The talk remained only talk for these four.
After 30 days, only John the addict and Jerome the asthmatic brother returned to the monk?
Why was it these two and not the other four?
Well, said the monk Xuan Lie, what is your answer?
John said I cannot believe how free I feel for the first time ever. I have not had a hit of anything for a month and my mind is incredibly clear and sharp. I feel really free for the first time in my life. Freedom from my use of drugs is my solution.
The youngest Jerome said. My breathing problems are surprisingly much better here. I ran out of medicine and discovered I can get along without it. Less stress, I suppose. I am breathing differently and feel more alive.
And? Said the monk, your answer to what is missing in your life? Perhaps freedom from stress?
Jerome said after a long thoughtful pause, No. Here is what it is. Every breath is a gift. I cannot count on the next one even here.. My little brother died after a month in this world. I will live with a grateful heart counting my blessings each day..
Then who deserves the final prize? Said the monk.
There was a pause. Then each brother pointed to the other and said My brother does. Each said to the other; You are more handicapped and more deserving.
The monk smiled. Then he said “You both deserve it. Perhaps you have discovered brotherly love. You can both take one half.
No, they argued, still competitive even in who was the most deserving and needy.
Finally they stopped arguing when they realized neither would yield, and turned to the monk and said. Master, then you decide.
The monk smiled again. He took out three tea cups, and filled each one half full .
They all sipped tea, and then he said.
Your cup is now just half full. This is better. Half is always better than full. Let us see whose answer is most sustaining for each of your lives.
What do you mean, they said? .
Return in ten years, the prize will be invested and will be doubled. But only one of you shall return.
They looked at each other and said at the same time, each sure of their solution, We agree.
They left. End of story.
Which in your opinion was the one who returned? Why did the other not return?
Discussion
Copyright, Paschal Baute. 2006.
posted by Paschal Baute at 11:22 AM
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