Issue nº 63

A day at the mill  |  Stories with the number three

The three blocks of stone

     An Australian legend tells of a wizard who was strolling with his three sisters when the most famous warrior of the region came up to him.
     - I want to marry one of these beautiful girls - he said.
     - If one of them gets married, the others are going to think they are ugly. I am looking for a tribe whose warriors can have three wives - answered the wizard as he walked away.
     And for many a year he traveled all over the Australian continent but never managed to find such a tribe.
     - At least one of us could have been happy - said one of the sisters when they were already old and weary from so much wandering.
      - I was wrong - answered the wizard. - But now it's too late.
     And he turned the three sisters into blocks of stone.
     Visitors to the Blue Mountains National Park near Sydney can see them - and understand that the happiness of one does not mean the sadness of others.

Three precise blows

     - How can I know the best way to act in life? - the disciple asked the master.
     The master asked him to build a table.
     The disciple drove in the nails with three precise blows. One nail, however, struck a hard spot and the disciple needed to deliver one more blow - which drove in the nail too deep all the way into the wood.
     - Your hand was used to three blows of the hammer - said the master. - You had so much trust in what you did that you lost your attention and skill.
     "When action becomes a mere habit it loses its meaning and may end up causing harm, so never let routine be in command of your movements."

The three bananas

     A friend of mine decided to spend a few weeks in a monastery in Nepal. One afternoon he entered one of the many temples in the region and found a monk sitting on the altar with a smile on his face.
     - Why are you smiling? - he asked.
     - Because I understand the meaning of bananas.
     Saying this, he opened up the bag he was carrying and produced a rotten banana.
     - This is life that passed by and was not used at the right moment; now it's too late.
     Then he took a still-green banana from his bag, displayed it and then put it away again.
     - This is life that has not yet happened; we have to wait for the right moment.
     Finally he took out a ripe banana, peeled it and shared it with my friend.
     - This is life at this very moment; feed yourself on it and live it without fear or guilt.