The Powerful General and the Monk
The powerful general and his army arrived at the border of a neighboring country, Scouts were sent into the countryside to reconnoiter. After a time a scout returned. Throwing himself off his horse, he knelt at the powerful general's feet and bowed his head.
"What is your report," barked the powerful general.
"Master," replied the scout. "Hearing that your magnificent and mighty armies have landed, all for miles around have fled."
The powerful general stood proudly and smiled. The scout looked up ever so meekly and continued, "Except the monk."
"What?!?"
"Yes, sire, except the monk. He has not fled."
"Where is this foolish monk?" bellowed the powerful general.The scout looked up. "In the village, sire, not 15 minutes ride from here. He is in his hut at the top of the hill."
The powerful general, by now enraged, strapped on his sword and armor, mounted his massive white horse, and galloped south along the coast road. At the village he sped up the hill and quickly dismounted in front of the monk's hut. Drawing his sword from its scabbard, the powerful general burst into the hut. There, a small man in clean but tattered robes, with shaved head, was sitting on a cushion, meditating.
The powerful general placed the tip of his sword at the monk's throat, and in his deepest, most commanding voice, said, "You dare not flee before my powerful armies? Do you realize that I could run you through with my sword without blinking and eye?"
The monk opened his eyes, looked at the general, and said, "Do you realize I could let you run me through with your sword without blinking an eye?"
The powerful general thought for a moment. Then he put the sword back in its scabbard, bowed to the monk, and rode away.