08
human realm / menschenwelt
Three Favorite Jokes:
ONE
Two farmers have built their first cabin in the land of the Indians and don't know how much wood they need to chop for the winter.
They think, surely the old Indian on the nearby hill can read the signs of
nature and give them some advice.
So they climb up to him and ask, "Wise Indian, how will the winter be this
year? Will it be harsh?"
He thinks for a moment and says, "Yes, the winter will be very harsh."
The farmers are impressed and start chopping wood diligently. A few weeks later, they wonder if they have enough wood and go back to the Indian. "Wise Indian, are you sure the winter will be very harsh?"
He nods thoughtfully and says, "Yes, the winter will be very, very harsh."
Worried, the farmers chop even more wood. As winter approaches, they go to the Indian for the third time and ask how cold the winter will be. The old man looks concerned and replies, "The winter will be the coldest I've ever experienced."
Shocked, the farmers ask, "But how can you be so sure?"
"White men are chopping soooo much wood!"
TWO
A man who has become wealthy goes to the rabbi and laments his plight: "Rabbi, since I became rich, I seem to have no friends anymore. How can that be?"
The rabbi leads the man to the window and asks, "What do you see?"
The man replies, "I see a square with people. Women and men talking, and
children playing."
Then the rabbi leads the man to a mirror and asks, "And what do you see here?"
He replies, "Myself."
Then the rabbi says, "Look, the window is made of glass, and so is the mirror. The difference is that behind the glass of the mirror, there's a bit of silver."
THREE
Two planets meet in space. One asks the other, "So, how are you?"
The other planet replies, "Not well, I have humans."
The first planet responds reassuringly, "Don't worry, that will pass."
EPILOGUE
Many years go by before the planets meet again.
"Wow!" exclaims one, "You look great! Did you get rid of the humans?"
"No, they're still here! They've learned to overcome their attachments and aversions!"
—