This Unforgettable Story From Tony de Mello Will Inspire You This Holiday Season

From the Happiness PhD Project with Jackson Kerchis...

A long time ago, there was a man who invented the art of making fire.

He took his tools and visited a tribe in the north, where the climate was bitter cold. The man taught the people how to make fire. And the people were spellbound. He showed them many uses for fire — they could cook, keep themselves warm, keep predators at bay, dance by firelight. So they built fire and were very grateful. But before they could express their gratitude, the man disappeared, because he wasn't concerned with recognition or gratitude. He was concerned only with their well-being.

The fire-making man visited a different tribe, and began to teach the art of making fire. Like the first tribe, this tribe was mesmerized. But the tribe members' passion unnerved the tribe priests. It didn't take long for the priests to notice that the fire-making man drew large crowds, and the priests worried about lost influence and power. Because of their fear, the priests determined to kill the fire-making man. Worried that the tribe people might revolt, the priests devised a clever plan.

Can you guess what they did?

The priests made a portrait of the fire-making man, and displayed it on the main altar of the temple. The instruments for making fire were placed in front of the portrait, and the people were taught to revere the portrait and to pay reverence to the instruments of fire. The veneration and the worship went on for centuries.

But there was no more fire.

— Tony de Mello

What’s going on here?

Tony goes on to draw out an analogy… While this teacher makes fire, what are all the various religions and spiritual practices concerned with making?

We could say love, compassion, wisdom, peace, etc. In fact, a fascinating paper from psychologists at UPenn mapped out six “converging virtues” shared by just about every major religious and spiritual tradition.

Courage, Justice, Humanity, Temperance, Wisdom, & Transcendence

So, whatever your belief system or practice is, are you making fire?

Are you using the instruments and instructions to bring courage, justice, humanity, temperance, wisdom, and transcendence into the world? Is your religious institution or spiritual community doing the same?

Or have these things become symbols and portraits sitting on a mantle? Or worse, have the ideals been used to justify fear, cruelty, excess, or dogma in the world?

Whatever you believe in this holiday season, I wish you happiness. And my invitation to you is this…

Let’s make fire.

Your happiness nerd,

Jackson K.

PS — I’m launching my first book in 2025 with a Stick to Meditation New Year’s Resolution Challenge. If you’ve been thinking about starting meditation or just haven’t been able to make it consistent, this is for you! Learn more at SticktoMeditation.live