Nothing to Show For It

Do one small good thing today that nobody will find out about. Put something back where it belongs. Fill someone else’s glass. Then do not mention it.

A powerful emperor once met a travelling teacher. The emperor had built temples, paid for books to be copied, supported hundreds of monks. He asked what all of it had earned him. The teacher said: nothing.

He was not being cruel. He meant that the moment you start counting what a good thing earned you, it stops being a gift and becomes a purchase.

What did you do today that you did not tell anyone about?

The kindest things you do are the ones with nothing to show for them.

大丈夫