THE GREAT TREE OF SORROWS
Once upon a time, people used to complain about their sufferings and pains.
Each one affirmed that "his sufferings were the worst of all, that God had afflicted him most."
Then, the Master, the Zadik told them a story:
On the days of judgment, when all people met before God, God allowed them to be free from all their sufferings by hanging them on the branches of the "Great Tree of Sorrows". After that, for a long time everybody was free from pain and sorrow. They could enjoy themselves to their heart’s content. At the end of that glorious time, God asked the people to go around the "Great Tree of Sorrows" and pick up from the tree, any sorrows they would find best to them. People went around and around the tree. They looked at all the sorrows hanging from its limbs. It wasn’t easy for them to decide which sorrows to choose. Finally, when all had picked up the sorrows of their choice, God looked around and lo and behold. Each one had reclaimed his own.
(Courtesy: East and West Series)
Once upon a time, people used to complain about their sufferings and pains.
Each one affirmed that "his sufferings were the worst of all, that God had afflicted him most."
Then, the Master, the Zadik told them a story:
On the days of judgment, when all people met before God, God allowed them to be free from all their sufferings by hanging them on the branches of the "Great Tree of Sorrows". After that, for a long time everybody was free from pain and sorrow. They could enjoy themselves to their heart’s content. At the end of that glorious time, God asked the people to go around the "Great Tree of Sorrows" and pick up from the tree, any sorrows they would find best to them. People went around and around the tree. They looked at all the sorrows hanging from its limbs. It wasn’t easy for them to decide which sorrows to choose. Finally, when all had picked up the sorrows of their choice, God looked around and lo and behold. Each one had reclaimed his own.
(Courtesy: East and West Series)
