Storm

Master and pupil were walking through the city. From around the corner they heard two men shouting at each other. They came nearer and they saw two grown up men in serious clothes in a fierce argument over some business matter.

It didn’t take much and one man pushed the other, the man pushed back and a fight was going on.

“Shouldn’t we separate the men?” asked the pupil.

The Master answered: “It would seem as a good and noble attempt. Still let us wait!”

The fight went on for some time. Soon the men’s beautiful clothes were dirty and torn.

The men’s movement became slower, their breathing was more a panting. Finally they sat on the ground next to each other, leaning on each others shoulders just like old friends are used to sit.

The Master approached them and asked: “Hello friends, please excuse my curiosity. What was your fight about?”

Then, in a good and orderly fashion, the two man described a business matter they had been quarreling about. As they realized how torn and dirty their clothes had become, they were angry about having had a fight. They forgot about the Master and discussed their matter with words, like wise people do.

The Master smiled. As they moved on he said to the pupil: “Some need the storm to cleanse their soul. But they are only visitors to wisdom.”

Then he added: “Others never experience it, just like the man who sits in a room doesn’t need to experience the house.”