Lectures of Col. R. G. Ingersoll, Volume I: Including His Answers to the Clergy, His Oration at His Brother's Grave, Etc., Etc.Ingersoll, Robert Green
Religion
Lectures of Col. R. G. Ingersoll, Volume I: Including His Answers to the Clergy, His Oration at His Brother's Grave, Etc., Etc.
Ingersoll, Robert Green
Free thought
I read a little story, a short time ago, from the Japanese, that throws
light upon the question. There was an old priest at a monastery. This
monastery was built over the bones of what he called a saint, and
people came there and were cured of many diseases. This priest had an
assistant. After the assistant grew up and got quite to understand his
business, the old priest gave him a little donkey, and told him that
henceforth he was to take care of himself. The young priest started
out with his little donkey, and asked alms of those he met. Few gave
to him. Finally he got very poor. He could not raise money enough to
feed the donkey. Finally the donkey died; he was about to bury it when
a thought occurred to him. He buried the donkey and sat down on the
grave, and to the next stranger that passed he said: "Will you not give
a little money to erect a shrine over the bones of a sinless one?"
Thereupon a man gave money. Others followed his example, a shrine was
raised, and in a little while a monastery was built over the bones of
the sinless one. Down in the grave the young priest made an orifice,
so that persons afflicted with any disease could reach down and touch
the bones of the sinless one. Hundreds were thus cured, and persons
left their crutches as testimonials to the miraculous power of the
bones of the sinless one. Finally the priest became so rich that he
thought he would visit his old master. He went to the old monastery
with a fine retinue. His old master asked him how he became so rich
and prosperous. He replied: "Old age is stupid, but youth has thought."
Later on he explained to the old priest how the donkey had died, and
how he had raised a monastery over the bones of the sinless one; and
again reminded him that old age is stupid, but youth has thought. The
old priest exclaimed: "Not quite so fast, young man; not quite so fast.
Don't imagine you worked out anything new. This shrine of mine is
built over the bones of the mother of your little donkey."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account