The Real Enemy of Vengeance

A young man kneeled outside the gates of Shaolin, motivated by the desire for vengeance. His goal was to learn Kung Fu in order to take vengeance for the murder of his father at the hands of an oppressive foreign officer. His motivation was so strong that he endured the patience test just to enter the gates.

Once inside, he thought he would immediately be taught killing techniques so that his vengeance could be swift, but he had to endure another five-year patience test consisting of cleaning.

At the end of the five years, the Abbot summoned the young man and said, “There are many styles of Kung Fu at Shaolin. Pick the style you would like to learn. Once you have chosen there is no turning back!”

The young man thought for only a second and said, “I want to learn the highest level.”

The Abbot replied, “Are you sure?”

He quickly replied, “Absolutely.”

The Abbot answered, “This is an outstanding choice, but very few can endure the training to achieve the ultimate level of mastery.”

The young man eagerly replied, “I know I will do it.”

Still fueled by vengeance, the young man began his training in a room filled with older monks seated on the floor, with their eyes closed, chanting. He was guided to his place and for the next twenty years began a quest of deep introspection through meditation. The training led him to many unexpected places as he slowly realized the true enemy was himself rather than the officer he intended to kill.

Many years later, as an old man, the monk left the temple to live in society during his final years.

One day he heard a familiar voice; it was the voice of the officer he had once sought to take his vengeance on. When he turned to see him, he saw a crippled beggar and could only feel pity for him.

Then he thought to himself, “My path through Shaolin enabled me to take vengeance upon my own attitude and I was healed, but this man’s quest crippled him.”