The Firefly and the Monk (story for children)

Dear friends.

Welcome.

Today, I would like to tell you this story.

When I was staying in the Deer Park Monastery in California,

it was on an evening that I walked through the oak forest.

It was a lovely night.

And as I entered the forest, I saw a whole cloud of fireflies dancing in the air.

As I walked closer to them, I noticed one firefly.

He was hanging still in the air, radiating peace and quiet.

I approach this firefly and curiously, I set myself down next to a tree.

And sure enough, when I myself became quiet as well, this firefly landed on my hand.

As I looked at the firefly.

I wonder.

Dear Firefly,

What makes you so still and quiet?

And I did not expect an answer.

But suddenly this little friend started to speak.

Let me tell you my story.

My dear monk, he said.

It was on one night just like this that I too was flying around in this dance in the forest.

But then I looked up.

And there in the sky I saw this white light.

And these white light.

They were so stale and quiet.

That I started to wonder how can I to be so still and quiet?

And I tried to mimic them and I try to send out my prayers.

But nothing got answered.

And every night I contemplated trying to be in touch with these lights, but to no avail.

So then one night I realized if those lights don't answer me, maybe I can go to those lights.

And so I went out on an adventure.

And as I flap my wings and I go to higher and higher.

I started to rise above the canopy.

I think no Firefly ever was as high as me.

But still I was determined to go even higher.

And I flew and I flew and I flew and I flapped my wings and tiredness went over me and I almost gave up.

But I looked up into the sky again, and I saw those white lights and determined.

I went on and I flapped my wings, and I flapped them more and more and more.

I flapped so hard and up I went and up I went.

And it almost seems like that the air was feeling that I had less resistance, but I went even up higher and higher,

until suddenly it became black in front of my eyes.

A moment later.

I opened my eyes.

And I found myself in a dark, vast

place.

There were white lights all around.

Hanging quietly.

And in the vastness of this space.

I felt,

for my whole body,

a stillness settling in.

But suddenly a low voice reverberated from the distance.

Hello, my dear friend, sounded the voice,

and I turned around, and in front of me was a big yellow form.

Hello,

my dear little firefly.

I am so happy to finally meet you.

We heard your prayers, my dear friend.

But we were unable to come to you as our place is here in space.

For we are stars.

And we offer with our life the energy of light and warmth throughout the cosmos.

Offering life on planets like yours.

And in the end of our lives, some of us who are super big expand and explode in giant explosions,

and in those explosions, the dust

of solar systems and planets are formed.

And so you two are made from stardust.

So, my dear friend.

You can find us.

In every cell of your body.

In every tree or particle of hair.

You can wake up

to the vast

wonder what you are.

So, my dear friend,

wake up, wake up, dear friend, you are falling.

Wake up, wake up.

And suddenly as I woke up, I felt the air rushing down.

And I flapped open my wings and with small movements.

I managed to fall through the canopy and land safe on the earth.

And that very night.

It became so clear to me.

I saw my own light.

Shining star light.

I touch the stillness of the cosmos.

And I found myself in everything.

And from that moment onwards.

I touched this stillness within.

Now, my dear monk.

You too can wake up,

to the wonder that you are.

And as I looked

to this tiny firefly.

A stillness settled in my whole being.

And I hope

that you too can touch the wonder of who you are.

Bye bye.