To each his own way
One morning, when the Buddha was talking with his disciples, a man approached him to ask for advice.
- Does God exist?
“Yes, it does,” replied the Buddha.
After lunch, another man came and also asked:
- Does God exist?
“No, it does not exist,” replied the Buddha.
In the evening a third man came with the same question.
- Does God exist?
“It is you,” replied the Buddha.
“But this is ridiculous, teacher!” - exclaimed one of the students. “How can you give three different answers to the same question?”
“Because different people ask,” the enlightened one answered. - And each of them approaches the divine in its own way: through confidence, through denial or through doubt.
- Does God exist?
“Yes, it does,” replied the Buddha.
After lunch, another man came and also asked:
- Does God exist?
“No, it does not exist,” replied the Buddha.
In the evening a third man came with the same question.
- Does God exist?
“It is you,” replied the Buddha.
“But this is ridiculous, teacher!” - exclaimed one of the students. “How can you give three different answers to the same question?”
“Because different people ask,” the enlightened one answered. - And each of them approaches the divine in its own way: through confidence, through denial or through doubt.