3 ms·

Reminds me of my favorite parables - When Alexander meet the sage ‘What is your purpose in life?’ ‘I am Alexander and I am out to master the earth.’ ‘What do

Reminds me of my favorite parables - When Alexander meet the sage ‘What is your purpose in life?’ ‘I am Alexander and I am out to master the earth.’ ‘What do you plan to do after that?’ asked the sadhu probingly. ‘I shall take all the wealth, horses and elephants from the conquered lands to Greece’. ‘Presuming you accomplish your goal, Emperor, what next?’ ‘I shall take all the men from these wretched countries as my slaves and all the women to regale us in Greece’. ‘What a motivation! All the men as slaves and women as entertainers!’ commented the sadhu wryly. Not stopping, he asked him further: ‘Assuming you accomplish even that, what will you do next?’ Contrary to his extrovert and energetic nature, Alexander was quiet for some time. Finally, he stated, with an exhalation: ‘After that, undoubtedly I will sit on my throne and relax’. ‘That’s what I am doing,’ said the ‘unusual Indian sadhu’ with a content smile. Source: https://www.esamskriti.com/e/History/Indian-History/Alexander-colon-s-Conversations-with-Naga-Sadhus--1.aspx https://www.esamskriti.com/e/History/Indian-History/Alexande...

nick7376182 3y ago
Conquering was his Zen flow state
- asimovfan 3y ago
  Theres no such thing as flow state in zen. "Flow" is the absolute state of being distracted and nothing to do with zen.
datadrivenangel 3y ago
Reminds me of my favorite parable, When Diogense trolled plato: Diogenes was knee deep in a stream washing vegetables. Coming up to him, Plato said, "My good Diogenes, if you knew how to pay court to kings, you wouldn't have to wash vegetables." "And," replied Diogenes, "If you knew how to wash vegetables, you wouldn't have to pay court to kings."
- brnt 3y ago
  Diogenes is a good source for quotes, here is one of him and Alexander: Alexander went in person to see Diogenes, and he found him lying in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. And when that monarch addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, "Yes," said Diogenes, "stand a little out of my sun."
  - inglor_cz 3y ago
    Indeed: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/diogenes-quotes https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/diogenes-quotes My favorites: "In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face." "As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task." "Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?" "The great thieves lead away the little thief." This guy would have been king of ancient Twitter, banned and reported everyday.
DiggyJohnson 3y ago
In RuneScape this parable is captured in the meme: "now you can finally play the game" - usually said sarcastically after a very long grind.
- Night_Thastus 3y ago
  That saying didn't originate with RS, it has showed up independently in various games over many years.

nick7376182 3y ago

Conquering was his Zen flow state

asimovfan 3y ago
Theres no such thing as flow state in zen. "Flow" is the absolute state of being distracted and nothing to do with zen.

datadrivenangel 3y ago

Reminds me of my favorite parable, When Diogense trolled plato: Diogenes was knee deep in a stream washing vegetables. Coming up to him, Plato said, "My good Diogenes, if you knew how to pay court to kings, you wouldn't have to wash vegetables." "And," replied Diogenes, "If you knew how to wash vegetables, you wouldn't have to pay court to kings."

brnt 3y ago
Diogenes is a good source for quotes, here is one of him and Alexander: Alexander went in person to see Diogenes, and he found him lying in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a little when he saw so many people coming towards him, and fixed his eyes upon Alexander. And when that monarch addressed him with greetings, and asked if he wanted anything, "Yes," said Diogenes, "stand a little out of my sun."
- inglor_cz 3y ago
  Indeed: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/diogenes-quotes https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/diogenes-quotes My favorites: "In a rich man's house there is no place to spit but his face." "As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task." "Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?" "The great thieves lead away the little thief." This guy would have been king of ancient Twitter, banned and reported everyday.

DiggyJohnson 3y ago

In RuneScape this parable is captured in the meme: "now you can finally play the game" - usually said sarcastically after a very long grind.

Night_Thastus 3y ago
That saying didn't originate with RS, it has showed up independently in various games over many years.