The Spiritual Master and the Scorpion

A spiritual master was walking along a riverbank when he noticed a scorpion struggling in the water, fighting to stay afloat. Moved by compassion, he reached down and gently lifted it, intending to place it safely on dry land.

As soon as he touched it, the scorpion stung him.

Startled by the sharp pain, the master instinctively dropped it and the scorpion fell back into the water.

Without hesitation, the master reached down again to save it. Again, the scorpion stung him. Again, he dropped it.

A third time, he tried. Though stung once more, he managed to carry the scorpion to the shore and set it safely on dry ground.

His disciples, who had witnessed the whole scene, rushed to him and treated his swollen hand. Once the pain had subsided, one of them asked:

“Master, why did you keep trying to save it? You knew it would sting you. What was the point?”

The master replied calmly:

“It is the scorpion’s nature to sting. It does not know that I wish to help it. Acting from instinct, it does what it was created to do.”

He paused, then continued:

“But why should I change my nature because of the scorpion’s nature? Do not allow another’s harmful action to make you abandon your compassion. The scorpion acts according to its nature. I act according to mine.”