SANDCASTLES

A Buddhist parable

Some children were playing beside a river. They made castles of sand, and each child defended his castle and said, "This one is mine." They kept their castles seperate and would not allow any mistakes about which was whose. When the castles were finished, one child kicked over someone else's castle and completely destroyed it. The owner of the castle flew into a rage, pulled the other child's hair, struck him with his fist and bawled out, "He has spoiled my castle! Come along all of you and help me punish him as he deserves." The others all came to his help. They beat the child with a stick and then stamped him as he lay on the ground....Then they went on playing in thier sand castles, each saying, "This is mine; no one else may have it. Keep away! Don't touch my castle!" But evening came; it was getting dark and they all thought they ought to be going home. No one now cared what became of his sand castle. One child stamped on his, another pushed his over with both hands. Then they turned and went away, each to his home.