Anthony de Mello was an Indian Jesuit priest, spiritual teacher, writer, and public speaker, de Mello wrote several books on spirituality and hosted numerous spiritual retreats and conferences. He continues to be known for his storytelling which drew from the various mystical traditions of both East and West and for introducing many people in the West to mindfulness-based practices.

In Silver Linings, Terry Lees draws from some of Anthony’s short stories to share.

Listen to the episode below, or continue on to read the transcript.

Episode Transcript:

Anthony de Mello was an Indian Jesuit priest, spiritual teacher, writer, and public speaker, de Mello wrote several books on spirituality and hosted numerous spiritual retreats and conferences. He continues to be known for his storytelling which drew from the various mystical traditions of both East and West and for introducing many people in the West to mindfulness-based practices. I’ve drawn from some of his silver lining short stories to share.

Going To Heaven – A priest walked into a pub, indignant to find so many of his parishioners there. He rounded them up and shepherded them into the church. The he solemnly said, “All those who want to go to Heaven, step over here to the left.” Everyone stepped over except one man, who stubbornly stood his ground. The priest looked at him fiercely and said, “Don’t you want to go to Heaven?” “No,” said the man. “Do you mean to stand there and tell me you don’t want to go to heaven when you die?” “Of course, I want to go to Heaven when I die. I thought you were going now!”

Child of God – Mother asked her son, “Did you know that God was present when you stole that cookie from the kitchen?” The son replied, “Yes.” So, mother said, “And he was looking at you all the time?” “Yes,” the child responded. Mother again, “And what do you think he was saying to you?” The child thought for a moment and then answered, “He was saying ‘There is no one here but the two of us – take two.'”

Realism – A gambler once said to the Master, “I was caught cheating at cards yesterday, so my partners beat me up and threw me out of the window. What would you advise me to do?”. The Master looked straight through the man and said, “If I were you, from now on I would play on the ground floor.” This startled the disciples. “Why didn’t you tell him to stop gambling?” they demanded. “Because I knew he wouldn’t,” was the Master’s simple and sagacious explanation.

In his book, Wellspring, Anthony De Mello wrote of searching for the source of happiness: I set out in search of the source of happiness. I look minutely at the life of a happy person who is poor, then talk with him, attempting to discover what makes this person happy. I think of a joyful person in poor health, in physical pain, and talk again, searching for what it is that makes her joyful. I do the same with a happy person who has lost his reputation. I walk into a prison and am amazed to find a happy person even here. She tells me what it is that makes her happy. Then I observe unhappy people who are free and wealthy, powerful, respectable.
I talk to them, and as they talk to me, I listen carefully to their complaints. Yesterday I had occasions to be happy that I wasn’t even conscious of. I see them now. It is inconceivable that anyone could be grateful and unhappy. I thank the Lord for each event of yesterday and notice the effect this has on me. And the things I call unpleasant, undesirable —I search for the good that comes from these … the seeds for growth they carry … and find reason to be grateful for them too. Finally, I see myself moving through each portion of today in gratitude —and happiness.

Look for the Silver Lining.

This is Terry Lees
[Music: Life’s A Dance – John Michael Montgomery]