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Xmac
4-29-13, 10:29am
Late one night a thief wielding a big sword broke into Master Taigan's hut.
Taigan, who was reading a book, looked up and said: "What do you want? My money or my life?"
"Your money", demanded the thief.
Taigan handed him his purse and went back to reading, as if nothing had happened. The thief crept out of the room, feeling ill at ease.
"Wait!" yelled the master. The thief froze, terrified.
"Don't forget to shut the door!"

Days later, when the thief was caught, he confessed that he'd never felt more afraid than when
the Buddhist priest called after him.

Gardenarian
4-29-13, 2:21pm
Why was the thief so afraid?

Xmac
4-29-13, 3:16pm
I'd say that he was so mystified and puzzled as to why the master wasn't afraid or upset that the confusion made him vulnerable. The fear or struggle that he expected to get from Taigan was a projection of his own fear and struggle which was all that was left in the absence of Taigan's fear.

Every time I get the picture in my mind of the Buddhist priest yelling to close the door and the sword wielding thief shaking in his shoes, it cracks me up.