Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning.
One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung. He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung. The other monk asked him, “Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know its nature is to sting?”
“Because,” the monk replied, “to save it is my nature.”
PS: If you like short stories filled with wisdom…
Ancient Words of Wisdom.
I remember seeing a “what’s the douchiest thing you’ve ever seen?” contest one time, and this one dude told a story of how he was in a museum, looking at a piece of modern art. He announced, more to himself than to anyone else, “I don’t get it.” At this, a man across the room turned around from the piece he was looking at, smugly said, “I do,” and then turned back to what he was doing. For me, that story always won, and was the douchiest thing I’d ever heard….
Until now.
Wow. Quite the vulgar attitude you’ve got there (in multiple ways). The ironic thing is… you’ve just displayed for everyone that YOU don’t get it. You don’t get THIS, the little story you’re commenting on. (And no, the extra irony of me coming essentially turning to you and saying “I do” is not lost on me.)
It’s particularly sad given the explanation of the parable which jayb3ta gave below.
I think he was talking about jayb3ta, not the parable.
@cyberpsygen
Young person, please do not take this negatively but you seem to miss the point entirely. The wisdom the monks show isn’t to be misinterpreted as “intelligence” (which you are not using or do not posses). This is a fable, or a way of explaining abstract concepts (you know, ideas) in a story manner.
The monk allows himself to be stung because he understands that the nature of a scorpion is to sting, the nature of a Monk is to be compassionate and take any and all pain (physical,mental,psychological or otherwise) and transfer it into a positive mental state or to learn more about the world.
You have missed the point. This is not a riddle nor is it a smarty panties contest. It is a parable desined to make you see that no matter what pain is caused, you can dismiss it, but in order to help one that would hurt you is to know their nature is to hurt.
This is not an attempt to flame or troll, it is an opportunity to teach you about what is being conveyed, this is MY nature. Please don’t take this as an attack, instead use the knowledge and reread the parable. Instead of trying to outsmart it, try to learn from it so that you may become more intelligent.
Namaste/peace/happiness unto you
j. b3ta
if they are so wise, then why didn’t they use one of the bowls they were washing to scoop it out?
Thank you for posting this.