A Hindu saint visited the river Ganges for a bath and observed a family on the banks shouting angrily at each other. Turning to his disciples, he smiled and asked, “Why do people in anger shout at each other?”
After some contemplation, one disciple responded, “Because we lose our calm, we shout.”
The saint questioned further, “But why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.”
Though the disciples offered various answers, none satisfied the saint. He proceeded to explain, “When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance, they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other, covering that great distance.”
The saint continued with an analogy, “What happens when two people fall in love? They don’t shout at each other but talk softly because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small.”
Emphasizing the point, he added, “When they love each other even more, they do not speak, only whisper, and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally, they even need not whisper; they only look at each other, and that’s all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.”
Concluding his teaching, the saint looked at his disciples and advised, “So when you argue, do not let your hearts get distant. Do not say words that distance each other more, or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.”
