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Heart of the Enlightened: A Book of Story Meditations
"Said the river to the seeker: 'Does one really have to fret about enlightenment? No matter which way I turn, I'm homeward bound.'" --Anthony de Mello
We are like bears pacing in a cage, Anthony de Mello says. Even if the cage is removed, we keep pacing in the same timid limits. We are afraid to get out. And we think that the only way out is by endless striving and thinking.
But this profound healer and spiritual master shows us another way. The Heart of the Enlightened , the sequel to the highly successful Taking Flight , contains more than two hundred of de Mello's favorite stories. Whether Buddhist tales, Hindu fables, Islamic sayings, or Christian parables, the stories de Mello has chosen are sure to seep through to the heart. They touch on relationships, human nature, service, spirituality, and enlightenment. These are stories to be read slowly and savored. They are the key to liberating us from all that would pen us in.
We are like bears pacing in a cage, Anthony de Mello says. Even if the cage is removed, we keep pacing in the same timid limits. We are afraid to get out. And we think that the only way out is by endless striving and thinking.
But this profound healer and spiritual master shows us another way. The Heart of the Enlightened , the sequel to the highly successful Taking Flight , contains more than two hundred of de Mello's favorite stories. Whether Buddhist tales, Hindu fables, Islamic sayings, or Christian parables, the stories de Mello has chosen are sure to seep through to the heart. They touch on relationships, human nature, service, spirituality, and enlightenment. These are stories to be read slowly and savored. They are the key to liberating us from all that would pen us in.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 1989
About the author
Anthony de Mello
178 books1,041 followersAnthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who became widely known for his books on spirituality. An internationally acclaimed spiritual guide, writer and public speaker, de Mello hosted many spiritual conferences.
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
The few talks which he allowed to be filmed, such as "A Rediscovery of Life" and "A Way to God for Today," have inspired many viewers and audiences throughout the United States, Canada, and Central America. De Mello established a prayer center in India. He died suddenly in 1987. His works are readily available and additional writings were published after his death.
In 1998, some of his opinions were condemned by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI, wrote for the Congregation:
"But already in certain passages in [his] early works and to a greater degree in his later publications, one notices a progressive distancing from the essential contents of the Christian faith. ... With the present Notification, in order to protect the good of the Christian faithful, this Congregation declares that the above-mentioned positions are incompatible with the Catholic faith and can cause grave harm."
Some editions of his books have since been supplemented with the insertion of a caution:
"The books of Father Anthony de Mello were written in a multi-religious context to help the followers of other religions, agnostics and atheists in their spiritual search, and they were not intended by the author as manuals of instruction of the Catholic faithful in Christian doctrine or dogma."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 1, 2017
This one was a very light reading !
The book is a compilation of lots ... and Blimey ..Really LOTS of small stories. Some of them are those which you might've already heard, but still will make you think in new light.
Anthony De Mello, takes stories from every faith and belief and retells to grip you to the book.
The book has lots of Quotes, and they are really good ones.
Definitely a GOODREAD !!!
The book is a compilation of lots ... and Blimey ..Really LOTS of small stories. Some of them are those which you might've already heard, but still will make you think in new light.
Anthony De Mello, takes stories from every faith and belief and retells to grip you to the book.
The book has lots of Quotes, and they are really good ones.
Definitely a GOODREAD !!!
December 10, 2023
Over the past weeks I have been reading a few of the stories collected by Anthony de Mello in this book almost every morning. Its subtitle is 'A Book of Story-Meditations' and it seems that the author is convinced that at least some of them are able to offer the reader flashes of truth or enlightenment. I am a big fan of parables in general and believe that the best of them truly are able to speak to the human heart in ways other forms of writing rarely do. But this selection did just not do this for me. To be fair, many of the stories cannot correctly be categorized as parables but are more or less jokes (literally). The interpretation of the stories rarely revealed anything deep - at least according to my understanding, and most of them do not have a clever or unexpected turn or ending. The predictability that characterizes almost all of these stories is not something that aids their effectiveness in my opinion. If you are interested in parables that are truly moving and powerful and clever, look no further than Peter Rollins' The Orthodox Heretic And Other Impossible Tales, which I recommend without reservation.
April 28, 2017
Tales, fables, and parables to provoke the mind and feed the soul. De Mello shares his profound thoughts and insights on enlightenment, relationships, education, human nature, and more.
"Only your illusions prevent you from
seeing that you are-and always have been-free."
"Only your illusions prevent you from
seeing that you are-and always have been-free."
January 28, 2013
I have read a number of de Mello's books but found this one disappointing. It is a collection of very brief pointed stories which can easily be inserted in speeches or sermons, but frankly I like the Treasury of Jewish Folklore better.
I would have prefered fewer stories and some of his perceptive comments on the stories.
I would have prefered fewer stories and some of his perceptive comments on the stories.
March 14, 2015
Stories. They capture our heart and mind leaving threads to weave the warp and woof. Without both we would not have a tapestry to enjoy.
September 21, 2026
An old man had lived most of his life on what was considered to be one of the loveliest islands in the world. Now that he had returned to spend his retirement years in the big city, someone said to him, "It must have been wonderful to live for so many years on an island that is considered one of the wonders of the world." The old man gave that some thought, then said, "Well, to tell you the truth, if I had known it was so famous, I'd have looked at it."
Here is a parable that the Lord Buddha told his disciples: A man came across a tiger in a feld. The tiger gave chase and the man fed. He came upon a precipice, stumbled, and began to fall. Then he reached out and caught hold of a little strawberry bush that was growing along the side of the precipice. There he hung for some minutes, suspended between the hungry tiger above and the deep chasm below, where he was soon going to meet his death. Suddenly he spied luscious strawberry growing on the bush. Grasping the bush with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other and put it into his mouth. Never in his life had a strawberry tasted so sweet!
A Suf of forbidding appearance arrived at the doors of thepalace. No one dared to stop him as he made his way right up to the throne on which the saintly Ibrahim ben Adam sat. "What is it you want?" asked the King. "A place to sleep in this caravanserai." "This is no caravanserai. This is my palace." "May I ask who owned this place before you?" "My father. He is dead." "And who owned it before him?" "My grandfather. He is dead too." "And this place where people lodge for a brief while and move on -did I hear you say it was not a caravanserai?"
When they came to tell a man that his house had been carried away by the food, he laughed and said, "Impossible! I have the key to the house right here in my pocket!"
"It isn't true to say that I did nothing," the man protested "Well, what did you do?" "I defed him. Each time he had his back turned toward me, I stuck my foot out of the circle!"
Here is a parable that the Lord Buddha told his disciples: A man came across a tiger in a feld. The tiger gave chase and the man fed. He came upon a precipice, stumbled, and began to fall. Then he reached out and caught hold of a little strawberry bush that was growing along the side of the precipice. There he hung for some minutes, suspended between the hungry tiger above and the deep chasm below, where he was soon going to meet his death. Suddenly he spied luscious strawberry growing on the bush. Grasping the bush with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other and put it into his mouth. Never in his life had a strawberry tasted so sweet!
A Suf of forbidding appearance arrived at the doors of thepalace. No one dared to stop him as he made his way right up to the throne on which the saintly Ibrahim ben Adam sat. "What is it you want?" asked the King. "A place to sleep in this caravanserai." "This is no caravanserai. This is my palace." "May I ask who owned this place before you?" "My father. He is dead." "And who owned it before him?" "My grandfather. He is dead too." "And this place where people lodge for a brief while and move on -did I hear you say it was not a caravanserai?"
When they came to tell a man that his house had been carried away by the food, he laughed and said, "Impossible! I have the key to the house right here in my pocket!"
"It isn't true to say that I did nothing," the man protested "Well, what did you do?" "I defed him. Each time he had his back turned toward me, I stuck my foot out of the circle!"
July 16, 2023
I’ve been a de Mello fan for many years, and I love his books Awareness and A Way to Love. I picked up The Heart of the Enlightened at a used book store. It is essentially a collection of short reflections or parables with different common themes. Although de Mello was a Jesuit Catholic priest, these reflections are consistent with his other works in that he dips into other faith traditions, and especially Buddhism and eastern spiritualities, to describe enlightenment.
Many of these vignettes are lighthearted in mood, but carry serious lessons to reflect on. I found myself laughing out loud while reading many entries, but you may be laughing because like me you just might recognize yourself in many of these stories.
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended for anyone on a spiritual journey. This will take its place with my other favorite books.
Many of these vignettes are lighthearted in mood, but carry serious lessons to reflect on. I found myself laughing out loud while reading many entries, but you may be laughing because like me you just might recognize yourself in many of these stories.
Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended for anyone on a spiritual journey. This will take its place with my other favorite books.
February 7, 2019
As usual, De Mello is beyond amazing. I'd have given it 10 stars if I could.
May 4, 2021
An empty random collection of slightly amusing anecdotes.
June 27, 2022
Enjoyed the big stories in this little book.
May 4, 2023
Fantastic weaving of Christianity & Eastern storytelling. Soothes my heart & makes me laugh!
December 12, 2016
The Heart of the Enlightened: A Book of Story-Meditations by Anthony De Mello, S.J. is a collection of stories, tales, sayings, fables, parables, aphorisms and sutras. The entries come from a wide variety of sources: Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, folklore and mythology. The entries are divided into sections: Spirituality, Education, Authority, Human Nature, Relationships, Service and Enlightenment. The themes of the stories are threaded together with De Mello’s brief and unobtrusive commentary, which is helpful but never preachy. Generally I found the book to be interesting, validating and inspirational. If you get a copy leave it by your bedside. Read only two or three pages at a time. That way the stories can soak in a bit.
February 25, 2016
5 stars -- had a deep impact on me.
This book is a collection of short stories, most of them less than one page long:
One of Junaid's disciples came to see him with a purse full of gold coins.
- Do you have more coins? asked Junaid.
- Yes, many more.
- And are you attached to them?
- Yes.
- Then you also should keep these ones, because you need them more than I do.
Many stories did not resonate with me, but I can imagine how they could have. I'll read this book again in a couple of years.
This book is a collection of short stories, most of them less than one page long:
One of Junaid's disciples came to see him with a purse full of gold coins.
- Do you have more coins? asked Junaid.
- Yes, many more.
- And are you attached to them?
- Yes.
- Then you also should keep these ones, because you need them more than I do.
Many stories did not resonate with me, but I can imagine how they could have. I'll read this book again in a couple of years.
June 25, 2016
This is a collection of pithy, thought-provoking teaching stories, parables, fables and the like providing considerable material for reflection. I come back to this one year after year as a source for sermon illustrations, springboards for giving talks to meditation classes, and my own personal contemplation.
April 23, 2009
A great little book to pick up and read when in need of some inspiration. It contains an eclectic mix of stories from many spiritual traditions and non spiritual sources.
June 27, 2012
It was a very interesting book lots of shot stories, each with a message to think about. Iread only one a day than thought about it. a book well worth reading
August 27, 2012
Excelente! Descubran ustedes mismos por qué
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews