Seeing that there was nothing, and he had entered a monk’s hut, the thief started to go out. Ryokan gave his blanket to the thief. The thief said, ‘What are you doing! You are standing naked. It is a very cold night!’
Ryokan said, ‘Don’t worry about me. But don’t go empty-handed. I have enjoyed this moment. You have made me so happy. Thieves usually enter the palaces of emperors. By your entering here, my hut has also become a palace, I have also become an emperor. In my joy, this is just a gift.’
The thief too felt sorry for him and said, ‘No, I cannot take this gift. How you are going to pass the night? It is so cold, and it is getting colder!’ Ryokan said, ‘The joy this simple act of sharing something with you will bring, will keep me warm for the night.’
When the thief left, he wrote in his diary: The thief/ Left it behind -/ The moon at the window.
Contentment means whatsoever the situation is, you accept it without any complaint.Abridged from The Law of Magic, courtesy: Osho International Foundation, www.osho.com
