The Successor
There once was a spiritual master who was nearing the end of his
physical life on Earth and was going to inform the people of his
mystical community about the identity of the person who was to be
his successor and, as such, continue to provide spiritual assistance to
that community and help its members travel the path of infinite
wisdom, compassion, and love. Of course, everyone in the
community, based on a individual’s understanding of the mystical
way, had his or her own idea about who the successor might be.
Some thought that the successor should be chosen from among
those people who prayed the most. Others believed the successor
should be selected from among those individuals who performed the
most austerities, such as fasting, night vigils, being in seclusion, and
so on. Still others thought the successor should be from among those
who were most learned in sacred scripture and spiritual traditions.
The teacher was aware of these differences of opinion concerning
the matter of succession and although he already knew who would be
his successor, he wanted to provide a demonstration which would
give the people of this spiritual community something on which to
reflect. Consequently, he told the members of the community to
assemble the next morning and that everyone would be required to
perform a task in relation to a test which was to be given on that
occasion.
The next morning, all of the members of the community came
together at the appointed time. The spiritual leader of the group
addressed them, saying: “The task which I would like each of you to
perform is to go to the chicken coup, select a hen, go wherever you
like in order to slay your choice of chickens, and, then, finally, bring
your slain chicken back here and await further instructions. “The
only requirement which I will impose on this whole process is that
you must be sure no one sees where, how, or precisely when you
sacrifice your hen. Go, now, and do as you have been instructed.”
The members all eagerly set about their assigned task. First, they
spent some time at the chicken coup, taking special care to try to
intuit which hen would constitute the choice that would be most
pleasing to their spiritual leader. After making their selections, each
of the members went off in different directions trying to make sure
she or he would find an isolated location where no one from the
spiritual community, or even a chance by-passer, was likely to
happen upon the details of their individual sacrifices.
One by one, the individuals performed the required task. One by
one, the people made their way back to the where the spiritual
master was waiting. One by one, the teacher received the offerings
with a nod and a smile, saying each time: “Ah, yes.”
Finally, all but one of the followers had returned from
performing the assigned duty. Eventually, even this person showed
up but with the chicken still alive.
The spiritual master spoke to the person in a very stern voice. “I
thought my instructions were quite explicit. Was there something
unclear in what I said to you about this task?”
The follower humbly looked down at her feet and said: “No, sir,
your instructions were quite clear.”
The spiritual leader, his gaze still piercing and commanding,
then, said: “So, why have you failed in your task?”
Looking even more crestfallen, the woman began crying and
said: “Sir, I tried to do as I had been commanded, but there was no
place that I could find where God would not witness the method,
place or time of my act, so, I have returned as you now see me.”
The spiritual leader’s countenance remained severe for a fraction
of a second longer, and, then, it broke into a radiant smile. “My
daughter”, he said, “you have, indeed, done well, and you have not
failed, for, you alone, among all of the people who sought to fulfill
this task, have done the right thing, and your actions and
understanding clearly show why you are to be my spiritual
successor.”
Turning to the rest of the community, he said: “Now, come, let
us roast these chickens that you have slain and prepare a feast in
honor of this occasion, inviting neighbors and strangers, alike, to join
us.”
The lone, surviving chicken seemed to have a smile of relief on
his beak. However, since chicken beaks are notoriously difficult to
read, one can’t be entirely sure about whether, or not, such a smile
was actually present.
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