It is not our purpose to become each other;
it is to recognise each other, to learn to see the other and honour him for
what he is.
(Hermann Hesse)
Sandcastles
There is an excellent Buddhist story about politics,
possessions and
life:
Some children were playing beside a river. They made castles of sand, and each child defended his castle and said, "This one is mine."
They kept their
castles separate and would not allow any mistakes about which was whose.
When the castles were finished, one child kicked over someone else's castle
and completely destroyed it.
The owner of the castle flew into a rage, pulled the other child's hair,
struck him with his fist and bawled out, "He has spoiled my castle! Come
along all of you and help me to punish him as he deserves."
The others all came to his help.
They beat the child with a stick and then stamped on him as he lay on the
ground...
Then they went on playing in their sand castles, each saying, "This is mine;
no one else may have it. Keep away! Don't touch my castle!"
But evening came; it was getting
dark and they all thought they ought to be going home. No one now cared what
became of his castle. One child stamped on his, another pushed his over with
both hands. Then they turned away and went back, each to his home.
(Buddha)
Page created 9 January 2005