A Jew Seeks Help
A poor Jew had come to the end of his rope. So he went to his rabbi for advice.
"Holy Rabbi!" he cried, "Things are in a bad way with me, and are getting worse all the time! We are so poor, that my wife, six children, in laws, five grandchildren and I all have to live in a one room hut. We get in each other's way all the time. Our nerves are frayed and, because we have plenty of troubles, we quarrel all the time. My home is a hell and I'd sooner die than continue living this way!"
The Rabbi pondered the matter gravely. "My son," he said, "promise to do as I tell you and your condition will improve."
"I promise, Rabbi," answered the troubled man. "I'll do anything you say."
"Tell me, what animals do you own?"
"I have a cow, a goat and some chickens."
"Go home now and take the cow into your house to live with you and God will help you."
The poor man was dumbfounded, but since he trusted the Rabbi, he went home and brought the cow into his house.
The following day the poor man returned to the Rabbi and cried, "Rabbi, what misfortune have you brought upon me! I did as you told me and brought the cow into the house and now what have I got? Things are worse than ever! My life is a perfect hell - the house is turned into a barn! Save me, Rabbi!"
"My son" replied the Rabbi "go home and bring the goat into your house to live with you. God will help you!"
From Bad To Worse
The poor man went home and brought the goat into the house and it was not long before he again came running to the Rabbi.
"Holy Rabbi!" he wailed. "Help me, save me! The goat is smashing everything in the house - she's turning my life into a nightmare."
"Go home," said the rabbi gently, "and bring the chickens into your house. God will help you!"
The poor man returned to his house and brought in the chickens. But it wasn't long before he again came to the Rabbi, lamenting, "What a misfortune you've brought upon my head, Rabbi! How can you expect human beings to live side by side with animals?"
"You're right - a hundred times right!" agreed the Rabbi. "Go straight home and take the animals out of your house!"
And the unfortunate man hastened home and took the animals out of his house.
Not a day had passed before he came running again to the Rabbi. "Rabbi!" cried the poor man, his face beaming, "With all the animals out, the house is so quiet, so roomy and so clean! What a pleasure! My house is a treat. Thank you Rabbi you have made my life sweet."
Acknowledging Life's Blessings
This story is a very well known one. I have often heard it referred to not only within the Jewish world but also throughout non- Jewish populations. Something in the simple wisdom and sweetly wry humor of this story seems to transcend geography, culture, and religion.
The poor man in the story certainly doesn't seem to have been dealt an easy lot in life. Living with his large family in one little room, it is not difficult to understand his complaints for indeed, who wouldn't complain in similar circumstances?
On the most obvious level this story points us towards acknowledging the blessings of our circumstances instead of complaining about the difficulties of our life.
But reflecting upon it, I see this story has also dealing with the subject of space.
The poor Jew is at his wits end. He experiences his house to be crowded beyond measure; there is no room to move or see clearly. He is so caught up in the clutter of his home that he is unable to do anything about it except contract around his own situation, wailing for help.
The clutter of this Jew's house reminds me of the clutter that is often to be found in our heads.
I believe that most of us are familiar with the experience of being mentally or emotionally overwhelmed; different inner voices tugging us to this direction or that, quarreling vehemently with each other, every speck of inner space clogged and congested with thoughts, feelings and thoughts about the feelings.
We often live with the illusion that this is all there is, this clogged over crowded inner sensation that vigorously informs us that our life is not quite as it should be.
We fully identify with the voices that tell us how unpleasant things are, when actually it is this lack of inner space, this congestion of thought and feeling that may be what we are finding so unpleasant.
It can be interesting to try and tune in to the space that exists between our thoughts and feelings. It can be as simple as stopping to take a breath whilst being immersed in some inner or outer drama, or opening our senses for a moment to the wide range of sound and sensation that is beyond our immediate perception.
The Rabbi in the story finds an ingenious way to awaken the poor Jew to the space that inherently exists within his home and his head. And in the same way, when placing ourselves momentarily in a quiet place, (that may at first emphasize our mental clutter to an extreme,) we can ultimately awaken to the healing space that is sometimes referred to as emptiness or nothingness.
After taking all the animals out of his home, the Jew is amazed by the room, space, and quiet of his home. Nothing whatsoever has changed except his awareness of something that always was present: Space.
Let us listen to the space between the words, thoughts, emotions, and the daily actions and interactions of our life, and like the poor man in the story we may discover that whatever our circumstances our real home begins within us, and a positive attitude can help to create a feeling of comfort, no matter the circumstance.