it is the person not the idea.

once I was attending a Buddhist teaching and in the middle of conversation monk told us the story and lesson stick with me.

the story was about a hunter and a bird. after injuring bird hunter started chasing the bird and the bird fell on king lap trembling with fear. The hunter demanded the king to surrender the bird as its prey. The king refused saying that the bird had sought his protection.

After much argument the hunter agreed to leave the bird alone if the king would offer a piece of flesh from his own body which was equivalent to the weight of the bird. The king was more than happy to make such a sacrifice. and happily cut his arm and gave it to the hunter.

such a compassionate thing to do. would you have done the same if you were that king ? If I was the king NO WAY. even if in some delusional circumstances I did that, I would have regretted rest of my life.

but if it is such a nice thing to do. why one person could not help but do and another could not even think about doing it. the difference is in the level of compassion ( which could be cultivated ).

the story might be a bit strong but imagine how many times we try to attempt things without really cultivating quality which are the foundation of it. ideas are never the reasons for success. it’s the person and the quality he has cultivated like perseverance, patient, compassion. but we generally look on the other side and say well he was lucky to have such a great idea. it is like saying to that king well he was lucky that bird fall on his lap.