Last evening, a rather unusual guest visited the monastery. He was the country’s most notorious blackmailer and had just been released, after serving 20 years in prison.
Sensei, the monks and the blackmailer performed ‘watching’ meditation and then the man shared his story.
He said, “I was probably the world’s best blackmailer. I could spot weaknesses in people and exploit them in any manner I wanted. I was on top of my game. My wife and son knew of my crimes and distanced themselves from me. Then one winter day, I thought to myself ‘If I am indeed such a master blackmailer, let me try and blackmail myself!’
So, I pretended to be kidnapped and sent demand notes to my family. My son, who was 20 years old at that time quickly contacted all my known associates and showed them the fake demand letters to request them for ransom money. They were fooled and he collected five times than the money I had demanded. And then, just like that, he vanished along with my wife! I was heartbroken realising that my own family had beaten me at my own blackmail. They had known of my game all along. No one had ever caught me, but they trapped me. I gave myself up.”
Sensei held the man’s hand and silently meditated. Then he said, “Blackmailing people is bad. But when you try and blackmail your mind, you will find out that your heart will beat you at the game. The mind can never cheat the heart.”
*****
