_Food 4 Thought_
*The Saint and the Scorpion*
Long ago, I heard this anecdote as narrated by a Sikh preacher.
Once a saint meditated on the river bank with his disciples.
He saw a scorpion about to drown in the river. Without hesitation, he picked the scorpian up, out of the water but, before he could carry it to safety, the scorpion stung him and back it dropped into the river.
Despite the pain the saint again rescued the scorpion out of the water, only to be stung again. This process continued for a while until, eventually, the saint succeeded in rescuing the creature.
His desciples watched in utter disbelief, but one plucked up the courage to ask why the saint insisted on rescuing the scorpion knowing, fully well, it would sting him.
The saint replied:
“The scorpion’s nature is to sting, whilst mine is to help God’s creatures in trouble”.
*Moral: Don’t abandon your good qualities because others wouldn’t give up their bad habits.*
Our nature is such that we often act instinctively and spontaneously without thought or discretion. Discerning intellect are also qualities which can save us from awkward situations and harmful associations.
rs ‘arshi’
27-10-25