A sage wandered the countryside and, as he passed near a village, was approached by a woman who beseeched him to help a sick child nearby.
He went to the village, and a crowd gathered around him, for such a man was a rare sight. The sick child was brought to him, and he said a prayer over her.
“Do you really think your prayer will help her when medical care has failed?” yelled a man from the crowd.
“You know nothing of such things! You are a stupid fool!” said the sage to the man.
The man became very angry with these words and his face grew hot and red. He was about to say something, or perhaps strike out, when the sage walked over to him and said: “If one word has such power as to make you so angry and hot, may not another have the power to heal?”
And thus, the sage healed two people that day.
[Source: http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/the-wise-sage/]
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{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Regina 10.21.09 at 10:10 am
This is a gem. Wallet-worthy (as in put it on a little piece of paper, fold it, put it in, and consult when needed). Thanks!
Paul 10.21.09 at 10:31 am
Regina,
Glad you liked it. I had to sort through much chaff to find this wheat.
Paul
Eric 10.21.09 at 12:07 pm
Not exactly on the topic, but….
I am a member of a website called Patients Like Me for ALS patients. We provide information about our symptoms and treatments and other things to our personal info on the website. There are hundreds of treatments that people have listed. The site lists the treatments by number of people who have specified them. Prayer is in ninth place on the treatment list.
Michele 10.21.09 at 11:03 pm
I clicked the link for the stories of wisdom and found this at the end of the story you cited, Paul: “Language does have the power to change reality. Therefore, treat your words as the mighty instruments they are – to heal, to bring into being, to nurture, to cherish, to bless, to forgive.” – Daphne Rose Kingma
This week I needed the message from both the story and the quote. Thanks.
James 10.22.09 at 3:16 am
Wonderful story. I’m not sure I like the sage calling the man a ’stupid fool’ however
Perhaps ‘you say stupid things’ 
Thanks Paul.
Paul 10.22.09 at 6:56 am
Eric,
I’m impressed that Patients Like Me is open to having prayer as a treatment strategy. You seem to have surrounded yourself with great people and great resources.
Paul
Paul 10.22.09 at 6:57 am
Michele,
I’m glad I put the source on the bottom. I thought to myself, “Why bother? No one is ever going to click on it.” Now I know why I did. Thanks.
Paul
Paul 10.22.09 at 6:59 am
James,
I think the point of the story is that the Wise Man had to say something offensive to the other to make him angry so that he could be receptive to the message. It’s a common Zen strategy.
Paul