PhLiArS

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 12.32 

IMAGE: Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, Eternity (1906) 

A kite with a fish in its beak was followed by a host of crows and other kites, which were screeching and pecking at it, and were trying to snatch the fish away. 

In whatever direction it went the crowd of kites and crows followed it, screeching and cawing. 

Getting tired of this annoyance, the kite let go the fish, when it was instantly caught by another kite, and at once the crowd of kites and crows transferred their kind attentions to the new owner of the fish. 

The first kite was left unmolested, and sat calmly on the branch of a tree. 

Seeing this quiet and tranquil state of the bird, the Avadhûta, saluting it, said, "You are my Guru, O Kite; for you have taught me that so long as man does not throw off the burden of the worldly desires he carries, he cannot be undisturbed and at peace with himself." 

And a man feels the need to cut down all the trees and to hunt down all the birds, because he has not yet learned to be content with simply being a man."