Questions of Meaning

Abstract

Once upon a time, a ruler was brooding over the questions of life. Because he was concerned with the nature of good and evil, he ordered his servant to bring him the best, most beautiful, and most valuable organs to be found. The servant brought an animal’s heart and tongue. The ruler gazed at the organs, contemplated their significance, and then sent the servant to fetch the ugliest and worst organs. The servant went out, and again brought back a heart and a tongue. Astonished, the ruler asked his servant, «You bring heart and tongue as the best organs, but also as the worst, how so?» The servant answered respectfully, «When that which a person feels and thinks comes openly from the heart, and the tongue honestly speaks only the truth, the heart and the tongue are the most valuable organs. The person to whom they belong feels healthy and happy. But when one refuses to wear his heart on his sleeve, denying his true feelings, and the tongue speaks untruth and falsehood, both organs are pure punishment for the person to whom they belong. The discord which he sows externally also fills his inner reality, and he finds that happiness has parted from him.»

The worth of men and diamonds can only be estimated when one knows them out of their shells. Many questions, many answers