A famous sage who had a large and diverse following, left his body recently. He bequeathed his shrine to his disciple groups.
The marble shrine was set on top of a rectangular building with marble stairways, on all sides. At the base of the building there were small shops that sold offerings for visitors to take up to the shrine.
Since this sage had a very liberal approach, he accepted all kinds of gifts, including cigarettes, alcohol, flowers, sweets, etc from his followers – just to make them happy. He would touch the offerings and then return them to his followers.
After the sage died, a bad squabble broke between the shopkeepers of the shrine. Their main grudge was that the alcohol, cigarette, sweets and flower shops were next to each other which made the shopkeepers uncomfortable.
Some of them came to the Monastery for Sensei’s help and guidance. In the main hall, seated with all the Monks, Sensei heard their arguments.
The flower fellow had a grudge about alcohol being sold next to his shop.
Another man said, “People buy cigarettes as offerings because later they smoke it themselves. No one buys my sweets.”
Sensei heard all their arguments and gurgled. He motioned Judicious Monk to speak.
Judicious Monk said, “The intent of the shops is not to sell goods like a market but for your sage. When the intent is so pure, why should the method even bother any of you?”
The shopkeepers were silent.
Then Sensei spoke in a loud, clear and strong voice, “We have to learn to live with each other for the benefit of others. In just twenty four hours, the day, the dawn, the dusk and the night accommodate each other. In the quick passage of a year, the most extreme seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter arrange to live with each other. To co-exist for the benefit of others is meditation, a prayer and karma. Do not shirk it because in this life that may be the most important lesson for you to learn.”
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