It is said that Nansen, the Chinese Buddhist master, saw the monks of the Eastern and Western halls quarreling over a cat; each wanted the cat to remain in their part of the monastery. Nansen held up the cat and said, “You monks, if any one of you can say a true word of love for this cat, I will spare its life. If not, I will kill it with a sword.” No one could answer, so Nansen cut the cat in two.
I think Master Nansen must have studied at the feet of King Solomon.
(Nansen’s story is recorded in the 13th century Chinese text The Gateless Gate, King Solomon’s in 1 Kings 3:16-28.)
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