The Stonecutter

Years ago I read a book called The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff it basically shows how the way of Winnie the Pooh is similar to the way of Chinese Taoism.There is a short Chinese story in the book called the Stonecutter,it really moved me and I go back to it every now and then. I figured I'd share it with you and I hope you get the same from it as I did.
There was once a stonecutter,who was dissatisfied with himself and his position in life.
One day he passed a wealthy merchant's house and through the open gateway,saw many fine possessions and important visitors. "How powerful that merchant must be!" thought the stonecutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant, then he would no longer have to live the life of a mere stonecutter.
To his great surprise he suddenly became the merchant,enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever dreamed of,envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself.But soon a high official passed by carried by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone no matter how wealthy had to bow low before the procession. "How powerful that official is!" he thought. "I wish that I could be a high official!" Then he became the high official,carries everywhere in his sedan chair feared and hated by the people all around,who had to bow down before him as he passed.It was a hot summer day and the official felt uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun it shone proudly in the sky unaffected by his presence. "How powerful the sun is!"  "I wish that I could be the sun!"
Then he became the sun shining fiercely down on everyone,scorching fields,cursed by farmers and laborers.But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth so his light could no longer shine. "How powerful that storm cloud is!" "I wish that I could be a cloud!" Then he became the cloud,flooding fields and villages,shouted at by everyone. But soon he found he was being pushed away by a great force and realized it was the wind. "How powerful it is!" "I wish I could be the wind!" Then he became the wind,blowing tiles off roofs,uprooting trees,hated and feared by all below him. But after a while he ran up against something that would not move a huge towering stone. "How powerful that stone is!" "I wish I could be a stone!"
Then he became the stone, more powerful than anything else on earth.But as he stood there he heard a hammer pounding aa chisel into the solid rock,and felt himself being changed.  "What could be more powerful than me I,the stone?"
He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stonecutter.
Until next time my friends stay geeky and hungry.