Thieves

If you want to keep a house

safe and protected from thieves

you must take appropriate security measures,

such as ensuring the doors and windows

have strong, sturdy locks —

storing money and valuable heirlooms

in a secure, unassailable vault.

This is what the system of this world

esteems as “practical wisdom”, is it not?

Stack up

store up

pile up

more

and

more

and

more

and then...

try to defend it

from

thieves.

Yet, even with such diligent preparations

there are still crafty, cunning thieves,

who, seeking greater and greater challenges,

learn to pick the best lock

crack the best safe

and bypass the best security system.

In a sense, what prudence is there

in putting so much time and energy

into storing up more and more

money, stock, vendibles and valuables

simply for the benefit and profit

of enterprising thieves?

Perhaps we might consider,

that what the system of this world esteems as

“a wise man”

is, in a sense, but someone who stores up money and treasure

for the benefit and profit of an artful thief

and what the wisdom of this world esteems as

“a sensible man”

is, in a sense, but someone who simply stands guard

for the benefit and profit of a clever thief.

Is this not so?

Let me tell you a little story...

Once there was a state known as Qí.

It was a peaceful, prosperous and harmonious land

governed by the rule of law

handed down by the ancients.

Until one day, the Attorney General, Tián Cháng

secretly had the King of Qí assassinated —

his food poisoned.

Then through subtle legal sophistry,

he claimed the right of succession —

the right to the throne

and

the

entire

state.

You might be apt to think that there is no possible way that Tián Cháng could get away with such a brazen act?

But not only did he get away with it —

not only did he steal

the title and office of the King —

but along with it, he stole the very laws of the land itself —

along with the allegiance and obeisance

of the politicians and bureaucrats,

judges and magistrates,

lawyers and police,

bankers and merchants.

He took the whole thing —

lock

stock

and barrel.

And though there were many who suspected foul play —

some who even accused Tián Cháng of murder and theft —

yet few challenged him openly —

fewer still said anything at all.

None of the small states would speak a word against him

None of the large states would make a move against him.

And the few who did speak out?

Well, they were either defamed, shamed, slandered,

mocked, scorned, ostracized,

censored or imprisoned —

some lost their reputation,

their title,

their position,

their freedom,

and

their

wealth.

Some even “mysteriously disappeared”

and were never heard from again.

So, for generations, the state of Qí

remained under the rule and control

of Tián Cháng and his descendants.

It was the crime of the century.

Yet, life in Qí went on.

No one interfered.

No one contested.

No one challenged.

And eventually most forgot about it entirely.

But the story of Tián Cháng —

who came to be known by historians as

“The Great Thief”

was not been entirely forgotten —

and with it

the life lessons

we may glean

in the retelling…

the story of The Great Thief,

who through subtle, shrewd, sophistry and subterfuge,

stole an entire country —

the throne —

the law —

the politicians —

the bureaucrats —

the judges —

the magistrates —

the lawyers —

the police —

the bankers

and the brokers

—

and then used them all

to secure and protect him self —

his family —

his lineage —

his legacy —

and the vast treasure

he amassed in the heist…

well, until the next Great Thief came along anyway…

but that is, perhaps a story for another day.

So, for now, I will leave you with this to contemplate…

A poor man may hang —

for taking a bag of rice

simply to feed his family for a few days;

but a rich man

is honoured, admired, revered,

and acclaimed “statesman of the year”

for stealing…

an

entire

state.

Go figure…

/|\

— a adaptation of a teaching from the Zhuāngzǐ 庄子, a collection of stories, parables and wisdom sayings attributed to 4th century BCE philosopher and teacher, Zhuāngzǐ (Master Zhuang) 莊子

With gratitude and respect to Morteza Ghanbari for licensing the photograph used as the avatar for this reflection open source, so that I may share it with you today.

If you would like to view more of Morteza’s photography, you may do so here…

https://www.pexels.com/@morteza-ghanbari-1497777/gallery/