May 9
Philosophy is no trick performed for an audience. It lies not in words but in deeds: it shapes the soul, orders life, guides action, shows what to do and what to leave undone — it sits at the helm.
Letters to Lucilius, Letter 16
Needle and Cotton Thread
Philosophy is no trick performed for an audience. It lies not in words but in deeds: it shapes the soul, orders life, guides action, shows what to do and what to leave undone — it sits at the helm.
Tierno Bokar was explaining to his older students the meaning of their prayer beads. Outside, the wind was blowing. A stronger gust shook the house; under the eaves, a swallow's nest tore open. A fledgling fell out and cheeped. The students went on listening to their teacher.
Bokar finished his sentence. Then he had the bird handed to him. He set a crate beneath the nest, went out and came back with a large needle and cotton thread. Standing on the crate, he put the bird back and sewed the nest together, as carefully as he otherwise embroidered robes.
Then he sat down again on his mat. The students waited impatiently for him to go on.
