A holy man was once threatened with death by a bandit. “Then be good enough to fulfil my dying wish,” said the holy man to the bandit. “Cut off the branch of that tree.”
One slash of the sword, and it was done! “What next?” said the bandit.
“Put it back again,” said the holy man.
The bandit laughed. “You must be crazy to think that anyone can do that.”
“On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. Anyone can do that. The mighty know how to create and to heal.”
One slash of the sword, and it was done! “What next?” said the bandit.
“Put it back again,” said the holy man.
The bandit laughed. “You must be crazy to think that anyone can do that.”
“On the contrary, it is you who are crazy to think you are mighty because you can wound and destroy. Anyone can do that. The mighty know how to create and to heal.”
(Sorry I have lost the attribution to this– one of my many books on nonviolent action.)
No comments:
Post a Comment