Wisdom, Featured

2 Short Stories Showing How Lateral Thinking Works 

The best way to think is to break down the barriers that confine your thought processes and change stereotypical problem-solving. The following two stories show how two people used lateral thinking and thought differently about challenges, which might inspire you.  Lateral thinking reveals the value of garbage  In 1946, a Jewish father and his son arrived in the United States. They settled ...

Helen London

Light bulbs standing upright on a table with one of them lit.

Powerful Chinese Story: ‘The Filial Piety of Emperor Wen of Han’

This ancient Chinese story The Filial Piety of Emperor Wen of Han, comes from Treasured Tales of China Vol. 1 This book is filled with historical stories and legends that foster morality and virtue. The short stories take us back to ancient times in China and the book sparkles with wisdom. It is translated by Dora ...

Jessica Kneipp

Song Dynasty painting — filial piety.

3 Top-Level Rules Useful in Your Life

The famous Japanese entrepreneur Inamori Kazuo once said: “The key to one’s success is how one thinks.” There are three top-level rules that guide how you think that can help you succeed in life.  3 top-level rules to follow in your life 1. Be willing to change  Zhou Jie, a Chinese actor, became well known for playing Er Kang, ...

Helen London

Dirt road in a field headed toward the sunset.

How Gong Yuan Found Out That Heaven Knows Everything

We often do things and conceal our thoughts, unaware that Heaven knows everything we think and do. In the Ming Dynasty, Dongyue Temple, Yanzhou Prefecture, Shandong, was well-known for the manifestation of deities. During the Hongzhi reign of Emperor Xiaozong, Gong Yuan, who was from Suzhou and a successful candidate in the highest imperial exam, ...

Hermann Rohr

A view of the sun shining on clouds over the sea.

Good and Evil Are Rewarded Accordingly

The ancients said that good deeds would be met with good returns while evil deeds would be punished. Up until today, there are still people who believe that “you reap what you sow.” The existence of God and Buddhas is real and retribution for doing evil deeds as well as compensation and justice for doing ...

Max Lu

Farmer's hand planting seeds in soil.

Apply This Jedi Master Wisdom in the New Year

I remember it well, when Jedi Master wisdom was infused into my soul. The year was 1977. After months of anticipation, it was finally here. “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …” [cue music] I was 9 years old as I read the crawl of those golden-yellow words on the theater ...

Tatiana Denning

A statue of Yoda outside in San Francisco in the summer.

The Ancient Chinese Story ‘Silence Is Cultivation’

The ancient story Silence Is Cultivation comes from Treasured Tales of China Vol. 1 This book is filled with historical stories and legends that foster morality and virtue. The short stories take us back to ancient times in China, and the book sparkles with wisdom. It is translated by Dora Li and edited by Evan Mantyk ...

Jessica Kneipp

Man alone on the water in a kayak, paddling by the light of the golden sunset.

What Is the Best Way to Resolve Conflict?

A high school classmate of mine is a master of karate. However, he has never had the opportunity to use his martial arts skills except in official competitions. I recently asked him if he ever regretted not getting to use his karate. He shared a personal experience that helped me truly understand that the way ...

Tatiana Denning

Closeup of karate fighter making a fist.

Universal Values Across Cultures: A Taste of Your Own Medicine

Throughout history’s development, Eastern and Western cultures have been pretty distinct in their languages and belief systems, but their universal values are amazingly consistent. To illustrate this, two historical events occurred during different periods in the West and the East. Let’s explore the Western and Eastern stories: “Please get into the jar, sir, and try ...

Emma Lu

Porileus is burned by Phalaris in the bronze bull.