Lao Tzu, an authentic rebel\u2014more authentic than Gautam Buddha and Mahavira, because he remained in the
\nworld and fought in the world\u2014lived according to his own light, struggling, not escaping. He became so wise
\nthat the emperor invited him to become his prime minister.He simply refused. He said, \u201cIt won\u2019t work because it is improbable that we can come to the same conclusions about things. You live according to the ideals your forefathers have given to you; I live according to my own conscience.\u201d But the emperor was insistent; he could not
\nsee that there was any problem.
\nThe very first day in his court a thief was brought in; he had been caught red-handed, stealing from the richest man in the capital\u2014and he confessed that he was stealing. Lao Tzu gave six months in jail to both the rich man and the thief. The rich man said, \u201cWhat? I have been robbed, I am a victim, and I am being punished? Are you mad or something? There is no precedent in history that a man whose money has been stolen should be punished.\u201d
\nLao Tzu said, \u201cIn fact, you should be given a longer term in jail than the thief\u2014I am being much too
\ncompassionate\u2014because you have gathered all the money of the city. Do you think money showers from the sky?
\nWho has made these people so poor that they have to become thieves? You are responsible. \u201cAnd this will be my judgment in every case of stealing; both persons will go to jail. Your crime is far deeper, his crime is nothing. He is poor and you are responsible for it. And if he was stealing a little bit of
\nmoney from your treasures, it was not much of a crime. That money belongs to many of the poor people from
\nwhom you got it. You went on becoming richer and richer
\nand many more people went on becoming poorer and
\npoorer.\u201d
\nThe rich man thought, \u201cThis man seems to be crazy, utterly crazy.\u201d He said, \u201cI want one chance to see the
\nemperor.\u201d He was so rich that even the emperor used to borrow money from him. He told the emperor what had
\nhappened. He said to him, \u201cIf you don\u2019t remove this man from the court you will be behind bars just like me\u2014 because from where have you got all your treasures? If I am a criminal, you are a far bigger criminal.\u201d
\nThe emperor saw the logic of the situation. He told Lao Tzu, \u201cPerhaps you were right that it will be difficult for us to come to the same conclusions. You are relieved from your services.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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\nOsho<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"