The Goban Saor: 'The Goban & The Druid'
Once a well-known druid came to
visit the Goban.
"Why have you come to vist me?", he asked.
"..You are
a famous man. I wanted to see for myself if everything I have heard about you is
true .."
"..And what do you see for yourself?"
"..That inside, at
the very core of you, there is a tramp.."
The Goban was deeply thoughtful
for a moment:
"..And what is a tramp?"
"A tramp is a man ..who
doesn't value anything. That's why he has no morals. No self-discipline. No
belief. He could end his life - " The druid snapped his fingers " - just like
that!"
"And how do you know this?"
"I know it only because he is
in myself.."
"Tell me another reason why you have come .."
"..I
have come to ask you what you see in me .."
"In you I see a
lunatic.."
"What is a lunatic?"
"..A tramp doesn't value anything
- the lunatic has plenty of valuation. But he values what is worthless. And puts
no value on what has real value .."
"How do you know this?"
"I
know it because he is in myself .."
"I look at you and I see only a tramp
travelling the roads."
"You do not see it in me because you do not see it
in yourself. "
"What else do you see?"
"I see a tramp who is still
travelling the road. Knowing he is a tramp. Knowing what he must do ...I see a
lunatic who is not travelling anywhere. Who has stopped in one place. Who is in
prison. Who does not for a moment know that he is in prison. Who thinks he is
free ...Now tell me another reason why you have come."
The druid rose and
bowed respectfully to the Goban:
"I have come to humbly beg you to be my
teacher .."
"Humility is for you a near-impossible attainment. We must
start with smaller things"