In a recent Facebook post, Katia Passerini shared learnings from Carl Gustav Jung’s book, The Red Book – The Page. It is a powerful and beautiful metaphor for great leaders’ selfless and unconditional giving.
A Zen Master saw a drowning scorpion and decided to pull it out of the water. When he did, the scorpion stung him.
Due to the effect of pain, he left the animal that fell into the water on the verge of drowning. The Master tried to pull it out again and the animal poked it again.
A young disciple who was there approached him and said:
“Excuse me master, but why do you continue? Don’t you understand that every time you try to get it out of the water it stings you? “.
The Master replied: “The nature of the scorpion is to sting and that won’t change mine which is to help.”
So, with the help of a leaf, he took out the water scorpion and saved his life, then turning to his young disciple, he continued: “Do not change your nature: if someone hurts you, take only precautions, because men are almost always ungrateful of the good you are doing to them.
But this is not a reason to stop doing good, to abandon the love that lives in you. Some pursue happiness, others create it. Worry more about your conscience than your reputation. Because your conscience is what you are, and your reputation is what others think of you. When life gives you a thousand reasons to cry, show it that you have a thousand reasons to smile”.
May you continue to grow your beautiful nature taking it to heights undreamed. Passionately and relentlessly pursue the creation of your happiness and, “when life gives you a thousand reasons to cry, show it that you have a thousand reasons to smile”.
Have a beautiful day, a Happy Mother’s Day, and a magnificent week!!!
“Do not change your nature: if someone hurts you…this is not a reason to stop doing good, to abandon the love that lives in you. Some pursue happiness, others create it.”
Wow! What a profound and wonderful elucidation on how to live one’s life. Thanks for sharing, Mike.
“…your conscience is what you are, and your reputation is what others think of you.”
Thanks Mike. That’s gold.
As always beautifully inspiring, allowing our Spirits to sing, even when others can’t hear the music.
I always love reading these on Mondays. They are a favorite part of my Monday routine. But wow, this one. Just wow. So profound. Thank you for sharing.
This was so timely and so on point. Someone that meant a lot to me and hurt me deeply through a heart-breaking manipulation and betrayal asked me to do something for him. I deeply reflected on it and ultimately chose to do it not because of who/what he is but because of who/what I am. And it felt like the right thing to do. Others did not agree with me. One friend even called me a saint. I know the way this person showed up in my life was a reflection of his nature, not of mine. I’ve moved beyond forgiveness to understanding and compassion for those who feel the need to move through life from a place of willful deceit stemming from mistrust of the world. It is a lonely existence.