10.2.13

Sunday ka Funda

In early times in Japan, bamboo-and-paper lanterns were used with candles inside. A blind man, visiting a friend one night, was offered a lantern to carry home with him.

"I do not need a lantern," he said. "Darkness or light is all the same to me."

"I know you do not need a lantern to find your way," his friend replied, "but if you don't have one, someone else may run into you. So you must take it."

The blind man started off with the lantern and before he had walked very far someone ran squarely into him.

"Look out where you are going!" he exclaimed to the stranger. "Can't you see this lantern?"

"Your candle has burned out, brother," replied the stranger.

- - -

('Teaching the ultimate' - a fable)

2 comments:

  1. Is this one of those Koans that we are supposed to meditate on, rational explanations don't work, explaining it diminishes the value of the story, you gotta open your mind to see the point kind of things?
    I admit that I don't get it. I could sit and analyse it but that may not be the point of the story. Enjoyed reading it though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sai:

    Fables are supposed to be understood! Usually, there aren't hidden meanings, although they might make a point gently.

    Had it been something I wrote, I'd have offered an explanation. Since you've enjoyed it, I'll let you savour the mystery.

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