SOUTH AMERICA

Buddha used to say to his disciples from the very first day, "Whatever you experience, however small, try to express it. Find out a way to convey it. Even if you fail, that is not important, what is important is that you have tried - and go on trying! By the time you become enlightened, you will have learned some secret which makes the difference between the mystic and the master."

Inner Harmony '94

• The political situation in a South American country was very shaky. The military was worried. They managed to apprehend the country's greatest gossiper and they condemned him to death.
  The gossiper was lined up for execution in front of a wall. When the order "Fire!" was shouted, the man fell down. After some minutes the gossiper realized that he was not dead. The general approached him and said sternly, "You are such a fucking gossiper that I did this just to scare you. These bullets are blanks! Now I hope you have learnt your lesson -- you can go free."
  The gossiper ran hurriedly to the street outside where he was immediately approached by a friend. "Hey, Pablo," the friend asked him, "do you have any news?'
  "Well," said the gossiper in a hushed voice, "don't tell anyone, but our headquarters don't have any
  
  
• A man lost his hat. He decided to go and steal one from the entry of a nearby church. When he arrived at the church, a sermon on the Ten Commandments was in progress. At the end of the service, he approached the minister and said, "Thank you, Reverend. You have saved me from committing a crime. I came here with sin in my heart -- I wanted to steal a hat...."
  "That's very good, my son!" said the minister. "But tell me, what did I say to make you change your mind?"
  "Well," explained the man, "when you got to the part about 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery,' I remembered where I left my hat!" ammunition!