Parable of Faith
Three friends in their late years argued about whether there is life after death and could not come to a consensus.
Then they decided to go to the famous sage for advice, so that he would judge them. Having come to him, they asked: "Listen to us and tell us which of us is right so that our disputes end."
The first friend presumptuously declared: “I believe my eyes and have never seen anyone survive their death. I can justify this based on my common sense.”
But the sage stopped him with a gesture of his hand and said: “You are right! Let’s hear the second one.”
The second of them modestly said: "I believe God's spirit dwelling in me, and this spirit invariably assures me that life does not end with the death of the body."
The wise man uttered: "You have rightly said."
The third friend said with alarm in his voice: "I am not sure of anything and therefore do not know what will happen to me after death."
The sage answered him: "And neither were you mistaken in your judgement."
Then the friends asked in surprise: “We all say different things, and yet you say that we are all right. Where is the wisdom in this?”
But the sage said: “The wisdom is that to each of you will be given according to his faith.”
Three friends in their late years argued about whether there is life after death and could not come to a consensus.
Then they decided to go to the famous sage for advice, so that he would judge them. Having come to him, they asked: "Listen to us and tell us which of us is right so that our disputes end."
The first friend presumptuously declared: “I believe my eyes and have never seen anyone survive their death. I can justify this based on my common sense.”
But the sage stopped him with a gesture of his hand and said: “You are right! Let’s hear the second one.”
The second of them modestly said: "I believe God's spirit dwelling in me, and this spirit invariably assures me that life does not end with the death of the body."
The wise man uttered: "You have rightly said."
The third friend said with alarm in his voice: "I am not sure of anything and therefore do not know what will happen to me after death."
The sage answered him: "And neither were you mistaken in your judgement."
Then the friends asked in surprise: “We all say different things, and yet you say that we are all right. Where is the wisdom in this?”
But the sage said: “The wisdom is that to each of you will be given according to his faith.”
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