Three Rules for Gossips

One day a fellow citizen came to Socrates and said, “Listen, Socrates, I must tell you that one of your friends…” “Just a monent,” cut in Socrates. “Have you sifted what you want to say through the three SIEVES?”

“Three SIEVES? What are they? asked the citizen. “Yes, three SIEVES! The first one is TRUTH. Have you checked if what you want to tell me is TRUE?” “Well.” replied the citizen, I only heard it! What is the second SIEVE?” “The second SIEVE,” said Socrates, “is GOODNESS. What you want to tell me , even if not checked, is at least something GOOD. Is it? The citizen stammered “No… not really.. It is just the opposite!”

“Ah,” sighed Socrates, “then let us try the third SIEVE’ is it NECESSARY that thou should tell me what happened?” “To tell the truth,” confessed the citizen, “it is not really necessary.” “Then,” smiled Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither TRUE, nor GOOD, nor NECESSARY, forget it, and we shall not dwell on it!”

Socrates wisdom is relevant to all of us who enjoy gossiping about others! before we speak about anyone to anyone else, let us first use the THREE SIEVES: Is what we are going to speak TRUE? Is what we are going to speak GOOD? Is what we are going to speak NECESSARY? If the answer to these three questions is YES, no problem, speak! Otherwise, it is best that we shut our mouths!”

Focus on your Objective: An anecdote

While I was on a retreat I had time to read sevaral books relating while reflecting on the direction that I will take next. Below is one of several good stories that I was able to read.

**-o0o-**

In the great Indian epic the MAHABHARATA there is the interesting story of Arjunna’s skill at archery  displayed in a tournament held as a test of markmanship. On a high pole hunging a wooden fish, with its eye serving as the target. A host of brave princes took up  the challenge to shoot the fish’s eye. Before each one let his arrow fly, his Guru, to test his concentration, would ask him what he saw. All of them invariably replied that they saw a fish on a pole at a great height… And went on to describe the head of the fish, or its colour, and on 

When Arjuna was asked  the same question, he replied, “I see nothing but the EYE of the fish.” And he was the only one who succeeded in piercing the target with his arrow!

In life, what is important for us is to have a clear idea of our OBJECTIVES. After all, it is our objectives that motivate us to achieve certain goals in life. What in fact happens is that  instead of concentrating on our objectives and their achievement,  we waste precious time on matters that really do not matter. It is good for us to realize the importance of the 80/20 Law. that is 20% of our efforts that produce 80% of results and 80% of our efforts go in producing only 20% results!