A man once set upon the world to learn what it meant to be a samurai. He tried in vain to aquire power for he thought that is what defined a man: His ability to hold dominion over others. Hard as he did try he could not find what he was seeking. Then upon a mere fateful day a wise man spoke to the weary warrior resting beside a spring.
"May you bring water to me young man? I have traveled far and wide and my lips are parched."
The young man looked over to the man and saw his disheveled appearance. In his olden days he would have ignored the man and cast him off. But he remembered the advice from a fellow samurai, "The spirit is lonely, thirsting for words of kindness and charity. Help them we must for in them we see ourselves." So looking at the tired, old man sit down. The young man brought him water from the spring and shared his bread with him. The two then spoke.
"Why would you share your bread with me when I only asked for water, young one?"
"Well...if you were me and I were you, I would hope that someone would be as kind."
"Well said young one. The measure of a true warrior is not in his power but what he chooses to do with that power. Will he use it to protect or to destroy? That is your choice to make and something that no one can decide for you."
As the day rolled on, the two talked at length about life and war. They got along really well for having just met. The young warrior then asked the man:
"Teach me old man. Teach me how to wield this sword I bear. I have little knowledge on its use. Help me become the warrior I am meant to be."
"Do not fret young padawan. In your eyes I could see the yearning and thirst for knowledge. Meet me here tomorrow and I will show you what I know."
The young man bowed in respect and walked away leaving the old man there alone. As he left he whispered, "I hope he doesn't find out I stole his sake." At the same time the old man whispered, "Foolish young man. Did he not care to see that I had taken his wallet? Ha ha ha haaa -hack cough hack- ahem." The sun set and the day had ended.
The next day the young man awaited for the man beside the spring. Bright eyed and bushy-tailed, he looked at the sky and awaited the impending lesson.
"May you bring water to me young man? I have traveled far and wide and my lips are parched."
The young man looked over to the man and saw his disheveled appearance. In his olden days he would have ignored the man and cast him off. But he remembered the advice from a fellow samurai, "The spirit is lonely, thirsting for words of kindness and charity. Help them we must for in them we see ourselves." So looking at the tired, old man sit down. The young man brought him water from the spring and shared his bread with him. The two then spoke.
"Why would you share your bread with me when I only asked for water, young one?"
"Well...if you were me and I were you, I would hope that someone would be as kind."
"Well said young one. The measure of a true warrior is not in his power but what he chooses to do with that power. Will he use it to protect or to destroy? That is your choice to make and something that no one can decide for you."
As the day rolled on, the two talked at length about life and war. They got along really well for having just met. The young warrior then asked the man:
"Teach me old man. Teach me how to wield this sword I bear. I have little knowledge on its use. Help me become the warrior I am meant to be."
"Do not fret young padawan. In your eyes I could see the yearning and thirst for knowledge. Meet me here tomorrow and I will show you what I know."
The young man bowed in respect and walked away leaving the old man there alone. As he left he whispered, "I hope he doesn't find out I stole his sake." At the same time the old man whispered, "Foolish young man. Did he not care to see that I had taken his wallet? Ha ha ha haaa -hack cough hack- ahem." The sun set and the day had ended.
The next day the young man awaited for the man beside the spring. Bright eyed and bushy-tailed, he looked at the sky and awaited the impending lesson.