Topic: DeMello

[Nichi]

The young disciple was such a prodigy that scholars from everywhere sought his advice and marveled at his learning.

When the governor was looking for an adviser, he came to the Master and said, "Tell me, is it true that the young man knows as much as they say he does?"

"Truth to tell," said the Master wryly, "the fellow reads so much I don't see how he could ever find the time to know anything."


Anthony de Mello, SJ

[Nichi]

The disciples were absorbed in a discussion of Lao-tzu’s dictum:
Those who know do not say;
Those who say do not know.
When the master entered,
They asked him what the words meant.
Said the master, "Which of you knows the fragrance of a rose?"
All of them indicated that they knew.
Then he said, "Put it into words."
All of them were silent.

~Anthony DeMello

[Nichi]

When a visitor announced he was leaving because he couldn't take another word the Master said, an older disciple was sympathetic.

"I know how you must feel," he said. "For years I avoided the man because his words were like crates that shipped rampaging wild beasts straight from the jungle into my tidy little garden. I would much, much rather have gone to preachers whose words shipped neat white bones from one graveyard to another."

Anthony de Mello, S.J.