Lao Tzu became very famous, a wise man, and he was without doubt one of the wisest men ever. The emperor of China asked him very humbly to become his chief Justice of the supreme court, because nobody could guide the country's laws better than he could. Lao Tzu tried to persuade the emperor, "I am not the right man," but the emperor was insistent.
Lao Tzu said, "If you don't listen to me... just one day in the court and you will be convinced that I am not the right man, because the system is wrong. Out of humility I was not tewlling you the truth. Either I can exist or your law and order and your society can exist. So... let us try it."
The first day a thief who had stolen almost half the treasures of the richest man in the capital was brought into the court. Lao Tzu listened to the case and then he said that the thief and the richest man should both go to jail for six months.
The rich man, very upset, said, "What are you saying? I have been stolen from, I have been robbed—what kind of justice is this, that you are sending me to jail for the same amount of time as the thief, the one who stole from me?"
Lao Tzu said, "I am certainly being unfair to the thief. Your jail term should be greater, because you have amassed so much money to yourself, deprived so many people of money... thousands of people are downtrodden and you are collecting and collecting money. For what? Its Your very greed that is creating these thieves. You are responsible.
The first crime is yours."
Lao Tzu said, "If you don't listen to me... just one day in the court and you will be convinced that I am not the right man, because the system is wrong. Out of humility I was not tewlling you the truth. Either I can exist or your law and order and your society can exist. So... let us try it."
The first day a thief who had stolen almost half the treasures of the richest man in the capital was brought into the court. Lao Tzu listened to the case and then he said that the thief and the richest man should both go to jail for six months.
The rich man, very upset, said, "What are you saying? I have been stolen from, I have been robbed—what kind of justice is this, that you are sending me to jail for the same amount of time as the thief, the one who stole from me?"
Lao Tzu said, "I am certainly being unfair to the thief. Your jail term should be greater, because you have amassed so much money to yourself, deprived so many people of money... thousands of people are downtrodden and you are collecting and collecting money. For what? Its Your very greed that is creating these thieves. You are responsible.
The first crime is yours."
Reflections:
What is something you have an abundance of right now?
How might sharing with others impact their lives?
Thank you for stopping by to read and comment on this post. If you find it in your heart to assist me with this Project, please follow the link below and Donate to change a child’s future. No amount is too small, everything helps.
No comments:
Post a Comment