Knowing Oneself
When the Duke of Osuna was on visit to Barcelona, Spain, he went on board a convict galley ship. As he talked with each prisoner he asked why he was there. Each of the prisoners had some excuse; one was there because a judge wanted him to be there; another found his way to the galley ship due to false witness; still another on account of rivals...... At last on e of the prisoners declared, "My Lord, I am here justly. I wanted money. I stole it and was caught."
The Duke was touched by the humility and sincerity of this prisoner. So he proclaimed in the hearing of all, "You are much too bad to be here among all these innocent men. You must leave this place at once !" And he pardoned the prisoner unconditionally then and there.
There is nothing more powerful than knowing oneself.
According to an ancient Indian fable, a mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther. So the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear of the hunter.
At this point the magician gave up. He turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to help because you have the heart of a mouse."
When the Duke of Osuna was on visit to Barcelona, Spain, he went on board a convict galley ship. As he talked with each prisoner he asked why he was there. Each of the prisoners had some excuse; one was there because a judge wanted him to be there; another found his way to the galley ship due to false witness; still another on account of rivals...... At last on e of the prisoners declared, "My Lord, I am here justly. I wanted money. I stole it and was caught."
The Duke was touched by the humility and sincerity of this prisoner. So he proclaimed in the hearing of all, "You are much too bad to be here among all these innocent men. You must leave this place at once !" And he pardoned the prisoner unconditionally then and there.
There is nothing more powerful than knowing oneself.
According to an ancient Indian fable, a mouse was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat. A magician took pity on it and turned it into a cat. But then it became afraid of the dog. So the magician turned it into a dog. Then it began to fear the panther. So the magician turned it into a panther. Whereupon it was full of fear of the hunter.
At this point the magician gave up. He turned it into a mouse again saying, "Nothing I do for you is going to help because you have the heart of a mouse."
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