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Philologos
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19 Aug 2011, 11:34 pm

It is told of one of the Desert Fathers that when he was a disciple his Abba, to test his obedience took his staff and thrust it into the desert sand outside the cell and assigned the disciple the task of fetching water from the well and watering the staff every day.

After a year or so the staff took root and put forth leaves. The Abba showed it to everyone who passed by, saying "see the friuit of obedience,"

The spirit is willing, but the bucket is heavy, the well far, and the sun hot.

ruveyn
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20 Aug 2011, 1:22 am

Philologos wrote:

It is told of one of the Desert Fathers that when he was a disciple his Abba, to test his obedience took his staff and thrust it into the desert sand outside the cell and assigned the disciple the task of fetching water from the well and watering the staff every day.

After a year or so the staff took root and put forth leaves. The Abba showed it to everyone who passed by, saying "see the friuit of obedience,"

The spirit is willing, but the bucket is heavy, the well far, and the sun hot.

So why didn't Abba plant the staff close to the well?

ruveyn

cw10
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20 Aug 2011, 7:34 am

ruveyn wrote:

Philologos wrote:

It is told of one of the Desert Fathers that when he was a disciple his Abba, to test his obedience took his staff and thrust it into the desert sand outside the cell and assigned the disciple the task of fetching water from the well and watering the staff every day.

After a year or so the staff took root and put forth leaves. The Abba showed it to everyone who passed by, saying "see the friuit of obedience,"

The spirit is willing, but the bucket is heavy, the well far, and the sun hot.

So why didn't Abba plant the staff close to the well?

ruveyn

There is a Zen saying, "Before Enlightenment chop wood carry water, after Enlightenment, chop wood carry water."

Philologos
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20 Aug 2011, 11:26 am

ruveyn wrote:

Philologos wrote:

It is told of one of the Desert Fathers that when he was a disciple his Abba, to test his obedience took his staff and thrust it into the desert sand outside the cell and assigned the disciple the task of fetching water from the well and watering the staff every day.

After a year or so the staff took root and put forth leaves. The Abba showed it to everyone who passed by, saying "see the friuit of obedience,"

The spirit is willing, but the bucket is heavy, the well far, and the sun hot.

So why didn't Abba plant the staff close to the well?

ruveyn

And yet I believe you have mentioned offspring. Given your expressed levels of CM, is it conceivable you minimized all assigned tasks?

naturalplastic
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20 Aug 2011, 11:29 am

ruveyn wrote:

Philologos wrote:

It is told of one of the Desert Fathers that when he was a disciple his Abba, to test his obedience took his staff and thrust it into the desert sand outside the cell and assigned the disciple the task of fetching water from the well and watering the staff every day.

After a year or so the staff took root and put forth leaves. The Abba showed it to everyone who passed by, saying "see the friuit of obedience,"

The spirit is willing, but the bucket is heavy, the well far, and the sun hot.

So why didn't Abba plant the staff close to the well?

ruveyn

To further test the guy's obedience ofcourse!
Duuhhhhh.

Philologos
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20 Aug 2011, 11:36 am

For a dumbed down version, see The Karate Kid

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