The Tiger within

While the Master is with one of his discliples, three worried intruders appear. The first one goes forth and speaks:

- Master, I am troubled for I have a great problem. How can we keep feeding the poor in our village without creating any injustice?

The Master listens. The second disciple shivers, desperate.

- Master, this matter causes us serious troubles which is why I am worried. We help the poor by giving them food. Now they do not want to work anymore for they get all the food for free!

The Master patiently waits for him to finish. Then, the third one stands forth and admits his doubts.

- Master, the farmers and bakers who used to sell their products are not doing it anymore. We are giving away things for free and that is ruining their business. Thus, helping the poor, we create more poor!

The Master smiles. He whispers a few words and bids them farewell with a seemingly excited smile. The disciple suddenly becomes mad.

- Master, how can you sit there smiling and glowing when these good men present you with such a difficult and sensitive matter? And from what I can tell, there is no solution: for it will not be fair to starve those who have nothing to eat.

The Master replies:

- Despair is not the answer, as you'll understand. The sorrows you have heard of, take them as a diagnosis. But make no mistake: I smile, not because I am irresponsible or inconsequent. I smile because I am thrilled with the anticipation of the action about to come.

When you have a problem, doing nothing is merely a way to do the wrong thing. Therefore, do not face your problems in life with sorrow. Instead, find the tiger within yourself.

Difficult problems await you? An interesting life they promise.