Parables

Anthony de Mello

Buddhist Zen Stories

Sufi Stories

Jewish Stories

Christian Stories

Mulla Nasrudin

Unknown Authors

Original Stories

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Spiritual Parables

These are some of my favorite spiritual stories and parables that have been collected from various sources. Some of these are classics you may have heard but never considered from a non-religious perspective, and others are spiritual parables you may not have heard before. If you know of any spiritual stories that you would like to share here, then please use the Submit A Story link.

Accept the Inevitable – Featured Spiritual Story

A grieving mother approached Buddha, carrying the body of her dead child in her arms. She begged him, "I know you can bring him back to life." Buddha replied, "Death is inevitable; I cannot restore his life." The woman was devastated, and was not prepared to accept this answer. Seeing her pain, Buddha said, "I can bring your child back to life, but only if you bring me mustard seeds from a person who has never had a death in his family."

Stone and the Flower – Featured Spiritual Story

"You have hardened", said the flower, bending her petals downward toward the half stone at her roots. "These rains should have softened you, made you more fertile and receptive to the seeds of the fields; but no. You have accumulated minerals and have become more silent and full of calcium. Why do you stay here? Why do you resist the brook that gives us water?"

The stone said nothing...