An old Scandinavian folktale

Once upon a time, there were three bears - a Papa Bear, a Mama Bear, and a Baby Bear. They lived in a little house in the middle of the forest. One day, the Bears woke up really hungry and sat down to have a breakfast of hot porridge.

Baby Bear took a taste from his little bowl. He cried, “My porridge is too hot!” “Mine, too!,” said Mama Bear So the three bears decided to go for a walk while their porridge cooled down.

Meanwhile, a little girl named Goldilocks was out walking in the woods. When she saw the bears’ cute little house, she couldn’t resist the temptation to go inside. She pushed the front door open and walked inside the bears’ house.

When Goldilocks saw the three bowls of porridge, she suddenly felt hungry. First, she took a taste from the big bowl. “Too hot!” she cried. Next, she tried the middle-sized bowl. “Too cold!” Then she took a taste from the little bowl. “Just right!” she said, and she ate it all up.

After she had eaten, Goldilocks wanted to rest. She saw three chairs. First she sat in the big chair. “This chair is too big and way too hard!” she said. Next, she tried the middle- sized chair. “This chair is too big and too soft,”she said. Then she tried the little chair. “This is just right!” she said. But when she sat down the chair broke into pieces.

By this time, Goldilocks was starting to get tired. She went upstairs and saw three beds. First, she tried the great big bed. “This bed is too hard!” she said. Next, she tried the middle-sized bed. “Too soft!” she said. Then, she tried the little bed. “This one is just right!” And she fell fast asleep.

Just about this time, the three bears came back from their walk. They noticed that things were not right. “Someone’s been eating my porridge!” said Papa Bear in his great big voice. “Someone’s been eating my porridge!” said Mama Bear in her middle-sized voice. “Someone’s been eating my porridge - and it’s all gone!” said Baby Bear in his wee-little voice.

Next Papa Bear saw his chair. He said in his great big voice, “Someone’s been sitting in my chair!” “Someone’s been sitting in my chair!” said Mama Bear in her middle-sized voice. “Someone’s been sitting in my chair - and it’s all broken!!” cried Baby Bear in his wee-little voice.

Now the bears tip-toed upstairs. “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed!” Papa Bear said in his great big voice. “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed!” Papa Bear said in his great big voice. “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed!” Mama Bear said in her middle-sized voice. “Someone’s been sleeping in my bed - and there she is!!” cried Baby Bear.

When Goldilocks heard all of this, she jumped out of the window and ran off as fast as she could. The three bears never saw Goldilocks again!

Now…… What does this story tell us about Buddhism? The middle way is the path to enlightenment. It is the way between the two worldly extremes. (Too hot, too cold, too hard, too soft, too big, too little)