Once upon a time, there was a little boy and a little girl who lived in a magical place called Maui, a beautiful island in the middle of the big blue sea.
Maui was filled with kind and gentle people who always said “aloha” with a big smile and gave friendly hugs.
One day, the little boy and the little girl were playing together on a white sandy beach.
The little girl found a beautiful sea shell.
The little girl put the sea shell up to her ear and she could hear the ocean.
The little girl smiled and smiled because she loved the ocean.
The little boy saw how happy the little girl was and got jealous.
The little boy wanted to listen to the sea shell too.
Without thinking, the little boy just took the sea shell from the little girl!
The little boy put the sea shell up to his ear and he could hear the ocean.
The little boy was happy!
But the little girl was sad, and mad, and started crying!
The little boy was sorry that he hurt the little girl’s feelings but he didn’t know what to say!
The little boy didn’t know what to do, so he became sad and started crying.
So there they were, two little children crying on a white sandy beach in Maui, a beautiful island in the middle of the big blue sea.
Just then, Amida Buddha appeared before them!
Amida Buddha smiled and said, “What happened, children? Why are you crying?”
The little girl said, “The little boy took the beautiful sea shell I just found! I got sad. Then I got so mad, I didn’t know what to say! So I started crying.”
The little boy said, “I got mad because the little girl found a sea shell and you could hear the ocean when you put it to your ear! I wanted it so badly that I just took it! Then she started crying and I felt sad because I made her cry. I knew I did a bad thing but I didn’t know what to say, so I started crying too!”
Amida Buddha smiled and said, “Little girl, what do you think the little boy should have done?”
The little girl smiled back at Amida and said, “I know! If the little boy had just said, ‘please, may I play with the sea shell too?,’ then I would have shared it with him!”
Amida Buddha smiled and said, “Thank you, little girl, that’s very wise and something we should all remember, ‘just say, please’!”
Amida Buddha smiled and said, “Little boy, what do you think you should have done?”
The little boy smiled back at Amida and said, “I know! I should have just said, ‘I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to take the sea shell without asking! I’m sorry that I made you cry!”
Amida Buddha smiled and said, “Little boy, that is very wise and something we should all remember, ‘just say, I’m sorry’!”
The little boy and little girl were so happy, they smiled and said, “Thank you, Amida! Now we can share the sea shell, and play together! Thank you, Amida!”
Amida smiled and said, “Look over there, there are even more sea shells, enough for you and all your friends!”
So the little boy and little girl gathered up the beautiful sea shells, shared them with their friends, and they all had a wonderful time playing together!
Amida looked at all the happy children playing together in peace and harmony, and smiled.
Amida said, “Mahalo, children! Anytime you want to see me, just say Namo Amida Butsu! I’m always ready to come to help you!”
All the children smiled, waved to Amida, and said, “Mahalo, Amida! Thank you for always helping us! Namo Amida Butsu!”
And they lived happily ever after, playing on a white sandy beach in a magical place called Maui, a beautiful island in the middle of the big blue sea.
THE END
JUST SAY MAHALO® 