Having read Khodadad Rezakhanis blog about words, a very wise story came to my mind. And I would like to share it with you……
Looking into our macroworlds, we meet talking based on assumptions and rumours every day. Among friends and family, at work and innocent children are being bullied at school because of this..And this was the “small” circles. Then there is the medias, politicians, stockmarkets and other powerful instances, who reacts on words too. Having a huge influence on the world today and the life of the individual. So many opinions based on others opinions, based on….. You go on…. I have learnt to think twice, before I answer to a question. I (at least)try hard to stay openminded and do an effort to see things from different perspectives, before jumping to action. It took me some years and I am certainly not perfect in this matter, but not trying I would loose my selfrespect. And I feel much more comfortable being among persons, whom I know are willing to reflect issues and talk from their heart. Not giving me some mainstream opinions read in a paper or heard in the news. And this leads me to the following little story:
“”This is a folktale about a man who went about town slandering the town’s wise man.
One day he felt regrets and went to the wise man’s home and asked for forgiveness. The wise man, realizing that this man had not internalized the gravity of his transgressions, told him that he would forgive him on one condition: that he went home for to take a feather pillow from his house, cut it up, and scatter the feathers to the wind. After he had done so, he should then return to the wise man’s house.
Though puzzled by this strange request, the man was happy to be let off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut up the pillow, scattered the feathers, and returned to the house.”Am I now forgiven?” he asked.”Just one more thing,” the wise man said. “Go now and gather up all the feathers!!!.””But that’s impossible. The wind has already scattered them.””Precisely,” the wise man answered. “And though you may truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. Your words are out there in the marketplace, spreading hate, even as we speak…””
But do not forget that the power of words also brings a lot of beauty into our lives. The magic of communication, when proper and worldwide it brings people together J
Thank you Khodadad for letting this story come to my mind again!
Kit
