The Explorer
from "The Song Of The Bird" by Anthony de Mello, SJ
The explorer returned to his people, who were eager to know about the Amazon. But how
could he ever put into words the feelings that flooded his heart when he saw exotic
flowers and heard the night-sounds of the forest; when he sensed the danger of wild
beasts or paddled his canoe over treacherous rapids?
He said, "Go and find out for yourselves." To guide them he drew a map of the river.
They pounced on the map. They framed it in their town hall. They made copies of it
for themselves. And all who had a copy considered themselves experts on the river,
for did they not know it's every turn and bend, how broad it was and how deep, where
the rapids were and where the falls?
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It is said that Buddha obdurately refused to be drawn into talking about God.
He was probably familiar with the dangers of drawing maps for armchair explorers.
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