DANIEL HERE WITH YOU ON THE MORNING CROSSFIRE AND RISE TO WISDOM. TODAY GLEANING WISDOM FROM THREE SHORT STORIES. A man invited two of his friends over to his home to present them each gifts: to the first, he gave a fine woolen robe; and to the second, a fine hat. They were both quite pleased with their gifts, but the first cast an envious eye upon the other’s gift, thinking how nicely it would go with his. The second noticed this and, once they had thanked their friend and taken their leave, he invited the first to join him at his own house. When they arrived, he asked for him to please remove his robe and, after also removing his own hat, cast both into the fireplace and burned them. There was once a certain conceited scholar who was travelling across the sea by boat. One day, while they were out to see, the scholar, by way of making conversation, asked the captain of the boat, “Tell me, have you ever learned of languages?” When the captain answered that he had not, the scholar carelessly replied, “A pity—your life is wasted without such knowledge!” This comment hurt the captain, but he held his tongue and continued sailing. That night, a terrible storm overtook the boat, which was tossed about in the rough seas and began to take on water. The scholar, roused from his sleep by the commotion, came up on deck to inquire what was going on. The captain answered him by asking, “Tell me, have you ever learned to swim?” When the scholar answered that he had not, the captain carelessly replied, “A pity—your life is wasted without such knowledge! During the civil wars in feudal Japan, an invading army would quickly sweep into a town and take control. In one particular village, everyone fled just before the army arrived – everyone except the Zen master. Curious about this old fellow, the general went to the temple to see for himself what kind of man this master was. When he wasn’t treated with the deference and submissiveness to which he was accustomed, the general burst into anger. “You fool,” he shouted as he reached for his sword, “don’t you realize you are standing before a man who could run you through without blinking an eye!” But despite the threat, the master seemed unmoved. “And do you realize,” the master replied calmly, “that you are standing before a man who can be run through without blinking an eye?”
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 04:44:51 +0000
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