Help Thy Brother ...

 

"Help thy brother's boat across and lo!  thine own has reached the shore."

~ Hindu proverb ~

An old Zen story tells of a time in Japan when paper lanterns were commonly used, with a candle burning inside.  The friend of a blind man who had visited him that night offered him such a lantern for the journey home.

"I need no lantern," the blind man proclaimed.  "Darkness and light are all the same for me!"

Nevertheless, his friend urged him to take a lantern for the journey home and eventually though with some bad grace, the blind man agreed.

"I'm glad you've decided to do this," said the friend.  "For although you make no distinction between darkness and light, others do.  If you had no lantern, someone might run into you."

The blind man grumbled his thanks as he took the lantern and set off home.  He had not gone very far when someone bumped into him, sending him stumbling.

"Hoi there, look where you're going!"  exclaimed the blind man.  "Can't you see my lantern?"

"I cannot," the stranger replied.  "Your candle has blown out, brother ....."

In expecting the unexpected, I listen to advice, help others along the way - and carry a bell as well as a paper lantern!

(From the book "A Little Book of Joy" by Stephen Bowkett)