A Zen story tells the tale of two monks washing their bowls in the river when they notice a scorpion drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung.
The other monk asked him, ‘Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know its nature is to sting?’ The monk replied, ‘because to save it is my nature.’
The monk did not prejudice the scorpion for its nature being hurtful to him. He was adhering to a higher principle of saving a life. And to remain consistent with his lofty nature, he was ready to endure the sting as the price for sticking to his nature.
Experience may show us what is good for us or what is bad. But it is up to us to stay consistent to our declared nature despite the burden of experience. We often must do things that we know may cause us harm, because to not do so, would eventually cause us the most harm. For the greatest lure is to feel true and pure!
Do as per your lofty nature…
Choose to feel true and pure!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
The other monk asked him, ‘Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know its nature is to sting?’ The monk replied, ‘because to save it is my nature.’
The monk did not prejudice the scorpion for its nature being hurtful to him. He was adhering to a higher principle of saving a life. And to remain consistent with his lofty nature, he was ready to endure the sting as the price for sticking to his nature.
Experience may show us what is good for us or what is bad. But it is up to us to stay consistent to our declared nature despite the burden of experience. We often must do things that we know may cause us harm, because to not do so, would eventually cause us the most harm. For the greatest lure is to feel true and pure!
Do as per your lofty nature…
Choose to feel true and pure!
- Pravin K. Sabnis
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