Influential Stories

[rgraham666]

After the 'Life Changing' thread of Wildcard's and the 'Power' thread of Sarah's, I remembered a story that I heard many years ago that had a profound influence on my life.

________

There was once an old samurai who had decided to retire and become a priest. But before he could do so, he had to give his sword to one of his three sons. And since the sword is the soul of the samurai, he had to give it to the correct one.

So he decided to set a test for them. He went to a room and placed a small wooden block on top of the shoji, the sliding door that was the entrance. When the door was opened, the block would fall, striking the person in the door.

The old man first called his youngest son. This son was a swordman. He practiced constantly. He was fast, sharp and accurate with the blade.

The youngest son came and opened the door. The block fell and struck him. Before the block hit the ground, it was cut in two by this son.

The old man was enraged. "Get out of this house!" he shouted. "You are disowned! You do not know what it means to be samurai and never will."

The old man next called his middle son. This son practiced frequently with the sword, but made time to study other things as well.

The middle son came to the door and opened it. The block struck him and he caught it before it hit the ground.

"I am sorry, my son," explained the old samurai. "You are not yet worthy of my sword. But I can see that someday you will be."

The eldest son was called next. This son spent little time studying swordsmanship. He had too many other things to work on.

This son approached the door, opened it… and stopped. He reached up and removed the block. Entering the room, he closed the door and replaced the block. He turned to his father, bowed, and asked, "Father, you wished to see me?"

"Yes," replied the old man. "You are the one who receives my sword for you are the one who most understands what it means to be samurai."

________

It took me a long time to fully understand this story.

The sword represents power.

The youngest son failed the test because he did not see the trap and reacted badly. As a result, he was likely to misuse the power given by the sword.

The middle son also did not see the trap, but reacted wisely. So although he did not pass, he had the potential to become worthy. He was much less likely to misuse the power.

The eldest was the only one who saw the trap, and disarmed it before it could strike. He was the
least likely to use the power, and thus the one who should wield it.

Power is best kept in the hands of those who are not going to use it, unless necessary.

This was a good lesson for me to learn so young. I've kept it close to my heart ever since. A pity so few people ever learn it.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

My favorite is the Taoist tale of the stonecutter. After a series of changes in his life for what he assumed was the better, he realized the true power of being whom he originally was. We all have a purpose in our lives if we choose to believe it, whether we are rich, famous, poor, whatever...we all matter in some way.

 

[dr_mabeuse]

My dad did the same thing to me but with a burning bag of dogshit.

---Zoot

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Sorry Zoot,

It sounds infinitely better with a Bushido sword and a falling block,
rather than a flaming bag of dogshit and a boot scraper.

http://www.outdoordecorcentral.com/graphics/JW051-230.jpg

 

[Guest]

Excellent message, rgraham

I like this story, too (it has been printed in several slightly different versions).


Obsessed

Two traveling monks reached a river where they met a young woman. Wary of the current, she asked if they could carry her across. The younger monk hesitated but the older one quickly picked her up onto his shoulders, transported her across the water, and put her down on the other bank. She thanked him and departed.

As the monks continued on their way, the younger one was brooding and preoccupied. Unable to hold his silence, he spoke out.

"Brother, our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women, but you carried that one on your shoulders!"

"Brother," the second monk replied, "I set her down on the other side, while you are still carrying her."

 

[Sshafer]

Influential stories

This is an old story. There was a scorpin who came to a river. He looked for a way across and couldn't find one. Then he saw a frog and asked. "Mr. Frog would let me ride on your back and swim me across the river?" The frog looked at him and replied. " No you will sting me and your poison will kill me," The scorpin said to the frog. " I give you my word I will nont sting you," The frog agreed to take him across the river. Half way across the scorpin stung the frog. The frog asked " Why did you do that? You have killed us both," The scorpin replied. " I know but I couldn't help myself. It's my nature,"

 

[Guest]

I like that one, too. Here is a slightly different version:


Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was 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 it's nature is to sting?"

"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."