Parables & Fables

Mr. Charlie · 11-30-2015, 08:23 AM

Not into organised religion myself, Baihe, but it would be a poorer world if we all felt the same, thought the same and did the same things.
Good luck to you.

Zhanteimi · 12-07-2015, 10:42 PM

The Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor

There was once a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him a great sum of money. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt.

But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt.

But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him only a handful of coins. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment.

His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full.

When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

DwnWthVwls · 12-07-2015, 10:45 PM

^I don't get it.

Zhanteimi · 12-07-2015, 10:55 PM

This guy owed this other guy a lot of money. The guy told the guy don't worry about it and let him go, even though he had the legal power to prosecute the debt. Then that guy went out and about choked some other guy out who owed him a nickel. When the first guy heard about this, he was pissed because the second guy didn't learn to forgive as he'd been forgiven. So his ass was grass after that.

DwnWthVwls · 12-07-2015, 10:57 PM

Yeh, I understand the story. It just feels like it's missing a message. Might be just because it is so direct.

Zhanteimi · 12-07-2015, 10:59 PM

It helps me not be an asshole (when I can remember the story).

Mr. Charlie · 12-08-2015, 11:18 AM

What I took from the story is treat others as you wish to be treated.

Zhanteimi · 12-08-2015, 04:20 PM

Certainly! That's the basis of it.

Oriphiel · 12-13-2015, 03:57 PM

But sometimes you can't know whether it's impossible or not until you attempt it.

DwnWthVwls · 12-15-2015, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Charlie

koan

noun

a paradoxical anecdote or riddle without a solution, used in Zen Buddhism to demonstrate the inadequacy of logical reasoning and provoke enlightenment.

Any examples?

12-13-2015, 03:57 PM	#29 (permalink)
Oriphiel Ask me how! Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: The States Posts: 5,354	But sometimes you can't know whether it's impossible or not until you attempt it. __________________ ---------------------- \|---Mic's Albums---\| ---------------------- ----------------------------- \|---Deafbox Industries---\| -----------------------------

11-30-2015, 08:23 AM	#21 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Not into organised religion myself, Baihe, but it would be a poorer world if we all felt the same, thought the same and did the same things. Good luck to you.

12-07-2015, 10:42 PM	#22 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	The Parable of the Unforgiving Debtor There was once a king who decided to bring his accounts up to date with servants who had borrowed money from him. In the process, one of his debtors was brought in who owed him a great sum of money. He couldn’t pay, so his master ordered that he be sold—along with his wife, his children, and everything he owned—to pay the debt. But the man fell down before his master and begged him, ‘Please, be patient with me, and I will pay it all.’ Then his master was filled with pity for him, and he released him and forgave his debt. But when the man left the king, he went to a fellow servant who owed him only a handful of coins. He grabbed him by the throat and demanded instant payment. His fellow servant fell down before him and begged for a little more time. ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it,’ he pleaded. But his creditor wouldn’t wait. He had the man arrested and put in prison until the debt could be paid in full. When some of the other servants saw this, they were very upset. They went to the king and told him everything that had happened. Then the king called in the man he had forgiven and said, ‘You evil servant! I forgave you that tremendous debt because you pleaded with me. Shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you?’ Then the angry king sent the man to prison to be tortured until he had paid his entire debt.

12-07-2015, 10:55 PM	#24 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	This guy owed this other guy a lot of money. The guy told the guy don't worry about it and let him go, even though he had the legal power to prosecute the debt. Then that guy went out and about choked some other guy out who owed him a nickel. When the first guy heard about this, he was pissed because the second guy didn't learn to forgive as he'd been forgiven. So his ass was grass after that.

12-07-2015, 10:59 PM	#26 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	It helps me not be an asshole (when I can remember the story).

12-08-2015, 11:18 AM	#27 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	What I took from the story is treat others as you wish to be treated.

12-08-2015, 04:20 PM	#28 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	Certainly! That's the basis of it.