All places are known for some unique quality in them - there was a small city known for it's philosophical debates. The main attraction on the weekend for the townsfolk, who were mostly retired academia types, was a lively debate which took place in the city center. People from all around the region would gather there - the debate topic were proudly chosen by a well-funded debate committee and ranged anywhere from "Why God created this Universe" to "Which ice cream flavor is best after a steak dinner."
When a compliment was given to a child, it usually involved the debate, "Oh, he would make a great debater" was given to any child who said anything resembling a critical thought. "Oh, the opposing team better watch out for this one!" was another liberally-given compliment.
The city was known also for another thing - an eccentric man who lived somewhere in the forest on the outskirts of the city. He would randomly show up in the city center; he usually wore orange clothes and sometimes blue ones. He had a long flowing white beard - looking at the length and the whiteness of his beard, one would guess his age to be in the 70s, but he moved like a young man. People swore that only his beard had whitened and lengthened, but his face and youthful gait had not changed a bit in the last few decades.
A lot of people had tried to communicate with him over the years, but he would reply to all their questions with very strange answers. Once a prominent member of the local meditation group had approached him with a genuine question, "How can I make my mind settle down during meditation?" The strange man had roared with laughter and said (in between fits of laughter), "Mind, what mind? There is no such thing! Only fools have minds!"
Another time, a young women came up to him and said she is prone to anger outbursts and it was destroying her relationships; and he had simply said, "Ahh, don't worry about it, you only have 40 years left in this role - keep up, you are doing great!"
Needless to say, people didn't approach him very much and he never bothered anyone either. On occasions, he would weigh in on the debate topic at the city center and speak coherently and seriously for several minutes. When this happened, people rushed close to him to listen and record his words. Sometimes he would look at a person directly and start speaking to him or her and the person would transform in front of everyone's eyes.
That person would never be the same again. Their back would somehow straighten when they walked, their eyes would become sparkling clear and, much to the horror of many, they never again would take part in a debate. Outwards, they would be the same - they would continue their jobs and whatever else responsibilities they had, and indeed they would become more patient and forgiving to all around them, but they became almost impossible to talk to, since they would laugh at everything and say things that made no sense at all.
When this happened, the debate committee members usually gathered around afterwards and consoled each other by shaking their heads in unison and saying, "Well, at least it's not one of us!"
I bow to the One creator who is beautiful, True and eternally joyful.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 21st pauri
When a compliment was given to a child, it usually involved the debate, "Oh, he would make a great debater" was given to any child who said anything resembling a critical thought. "Oh, the opposing team better watch out for this one!" was another liberally-given compliment.
The city was known also for another thing - an eccentric man who lived somewhere in the forest on the outskirts of the city. He would randomly show up in the city center; he usually wore orange clothes and sometimes blue ones. He had a long flowing white beard - looking at the length and the whiteness of his beard, one would guess his age to be in the 70s, but he moved like a young man. People swore that only his beard had whitened and lengthened, but his face and youthful gait had not changed a bit in the last few decades.
A lot of people had tried to communicate with him over the years, but he would reply to all their questions with very strange answers. Once a prominent member of the local meditation group had approached him with a genuine question, "How can I make my mind settle down during meditation?" The strange man had roared with laughter and said (in between fits of laughter), "Mind, what mind? There is no such thing! Only fools have minds!"
Another time, a young women came up to him and said she is prone to anger outbursts and it was destroying her relationships; and he had simply said, "Ahh, don't worry about it, you only have 40 years left in this role - keep up, you are doing great!"
Needless to say, people didn't approach him very much and he never bothered anyone either. On occasions, he would weigh in on the debate topic at the city center and speak coherently and seriously for several minutes. When this happened, people rushed close to him to listen and record his words. Sometimes he would look at a person directly and start speaking to him or her and the person would transform in front of everyone's eyes.
That person would never be the same again. Their back would somehow straighten when they walked, their eyes would become sparkling clear and, much to the horror of many, they never again would take part in a debate. Outwards, they would be the same - they would continue their jobs and whatever else responsibilities they had, and indeed they would become more patient and forgiving to all around them, but they became almost impossible to talk to, since they would laugh at everything and say things that made no sense at all.
When this happened, the debate committee members usually gathered around afterwards and consoled each other by shaking their heads in unison and saying, "Well, at least it's not one of us!"
I bow to the One creator who is beautiful, True and eternally joyful.
----- Guru Nanak, Jap Ji, 21st pauri
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