“I am poor and weak,” a teacher once said to his students, “but you are young.” I am teaching you, and it is your duty to find money on which your old teacher can live.
- What should we do? - asked the students. “After all, the inhabitants of this city are very stingy, and it would be in vain to ask them for help!”
“My children,” said the teacher, “there is a way to get money without unnecessary requests, just by taking it.” It will not be a sin for us to steal, because we deserve money more than others. But, alas, I am too old and weak to become a thief!
“We are young,” the students answered, “we can handle it!” There is nothing we would not do for you, teacher! Tell us what we should do, and we will obey you.
“You are strong,” answered the teacher, “it costs you nothing to take away a rich man’s wallet.” Do this: choose a secluded place where no one will see you, then grab a passerby and take the money, but do not harm him.
- Let's go right now! - the students began to shout.
Only one of them, with his eyes downcast, remained silent. The teacher looked at the young man and said:
“My other students are full of courage and eager to help, but you don’t care about your teacher’s suffering.”
- Sorry, teacher! - answered the young man. - But your proposal is impossible! This is the reason for my silence.
- Why is it impossible?
“But there is no place where no one will see,” answered the student. “Even when I’m all alone, I see for myself.” Yes, I’d rather go begging with a beggar’s bag than allow myself to be seen stealing.
At these words, the teacher’s face lit up and he hugged his student.
“I am happy,” said the old man, “if among my students at least one understood my words!”
The other disciples saw that the master was testing them and bowed their heads in shame. From that day on, whenever an unworthy thought came into their minds, they remembered the words of their comrade: “I see for myself.”
Thus they all achieved greatness and lived happily.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru