The Beggar and the Box
April 8, 2010 at 4:01 pm 4 comments
I’m reading “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle, as suggested by my meditation teacher from the retreat a few weeks back. I loved the simplicity and effectiveness of this anecdote in the first chapter:
A beggar had been sitting by the side of a road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by.
“Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap.
“I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger. Then he asked: “What’s that you are sitting on?”
“Nothing,” replied the beggar. “Just an old box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.”
“Ever looked inside?” asked the stranger.
“No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There’s nothing in there.”
“Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger.
The beggar managed to pry open the lid. With astonishment, disbelief, and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.
Entry filed under: Floating. Tags: anecdote, beggar, book, box of gold, Eckhart Tolle, meditation, spirituality, The Power of Now.
1.
mirellamccracken | April 8, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Nice one!
2.
Meedo | April 9, 2010 at 3:38 am
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4695358&id=513957165
3.
Lorena | April 9, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Lovely image Meedo! Very sad and poignant at the same time.. This beggar found himself in the box.
4.
Meedo | April 9, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I took this in Tokyo about 10 years ago, after reading Kobo Abe’s Box Man. Check it out! If you haven’t already, let me know — I may still have my copy lying around somewhere. x