16 July 2003: True Story

Some stories are true even if they didn't happen. 

Some stories are more true than most of what happens.

This is one of the truest stories I've ever heard, and one of the clearest and most succinct lessons in zen and the art of sorcery.  It's related by a sorcerous character in Daniel Quinn's The Holy:

I don't know if this story will be familiar to you, but it's said that, before Jesus began his ministry, he was led away by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.  In one of these temptations, the devil took him to the top of a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their glory, saying "All this will be yours if you will but fall down and do me homage."  According to the story, Jesus replied, "Begone, Satan!"  But would you like to know what he really said?  He said, "What do you mean by all this?"

Now that's aikido.  Wish I could have seen the look on old Satan's face.