Oh Fire, Why Do You Burn So Relentlessly?
A man stood over a fire, watching as he poured a handful of dry, crumpled tea leaves into a pot of steaming water. As the water reached a rolling boil, his thoughts drifted. Then, a voice whispered: “I am burned and drowning!” Startled, he looked around. No one was there. Again, the voice called: “I am burned and drowning!” This time, he peered more closely and saw the sound was coming from inside the pot—from the tea leaves swirling in the boiling water. A single leaf, caught in the dance of heat and movement, spoke to him: “I am burned and drowning! Get me out!” The man gazed at the leaf with gentle understanding. Up it went, down it went, tumbling in the churning water. The fire beneath raged, heating the water, transforming it. Again, the tea leaf pleaded: "I am sinking! Please, take me out!" But this time, it protested further, "But I was fermented and fried before! I have already had my fair share of sufferings!" The man stirred the pot slowly and replied, ...
