Once upon a time, a man who had wanted his only son to become a deeply knowledgeable person in esoteric engineering and philosophy of life, took him to a sage for discipleship. For years, this man had been looking for somebody who would be as great a sage as the world famous Duke Kahanamoku, to give esoteric tutorials to his only son.

Eventually word reached him about an Egyptologist in the Himalayas to whom he sent his son. The very first assignment for the boy was to go to a public cemetery and insult all those who were ever buried there and listen carefully to their reaction. The boy quickly and readily went to the cemetery and insulted all those who were buried there for about five minutes.

The curious and tremendously perplexed boy listened carefully. He noticed there was total silence to the insults he had so enthusiastically poured on the dead. He went back to the sage and excitedly reported that there was absolute silence from the dead.

The second assignment for the boy was to go back to the same cemetery and praise the dead and listen to their reaction. The boy quickly went back and devotedly praised the dead for about five minutes and listened carefully for their reaction. For one more time, there was absolute silence from the dead.

He hurried back to the sage and worriedly reported that there was total silence from the dead. The wise man looked searchingly at the boy and told him, “My son, be like the dead. Do not let insults or praises from people corrupt your conscience and sense of judgement.”

By: Simon Amegashie-Viglo
Email: amegashieviglos@yahoo.com