Friday 12 July 2024

CED count 11

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I am reminded of the Zen story of the great warrior Nobunaga, which emphasizes the importance of optimism. Nobunaga attacked an enemy force which outnumbered him ten to one. His odds weren’t looking good. But Nobunaga turned to the spiritual world for help. He stopped at a Shinto sanctuary and told the troops that, aer praying, “I will toss a coin. If heads come up, we will win; if tails, we will lose. Destiny holds us in her hand.” He prayed silently, then tossed the coin. It came up heads, and his soldiers, inspired by the omen, crushed the enemy. “No one can change the hand of destiny,” remarked his attendant sagaciously aer the battle was won. “Indeed not,” said Nobunaga, showing him the coin he had tossed. It was doubleheaded.


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