TV Channel

My talk is titled, "World Peace is in Your Hands." Journalists often ask me, "What do you mean by that?" Now I sit before you, and you may expect this Indian visitor to show you how peace is in your hands. Yet, though it is in our hands, there is no peace. I recall a beautiful story, which I have repeated often, for it is symbolic of world peace. It is a story between a master and a disciple. It is human nature that we often do not trust; we are in doubt. Human nature also includes ego and jealousy, even towards parents or a master, and unfortunately, sometimes even towards one's own children. There was a disciple who was always angry, thinking, "Why does my master know everything? I think he does not. Whatever I ask, he answers correctly. Today I will ask him something, and I am sure he will fail." He caught a tiny bird, held it in his hand, and hid his hands behind his back. He walked to where the master was sitting, stopped about twenty meters away, and said: "Good morning, sir. How are you, dear master? I know that you know everything, and it is very stupid of me to always ask you questions, though you know all. But, master, sometimes it gives me a kind of satisfaction to know I am in good hands, that my master is so wise. Just to be sure, master—I know that you know—but I would like to ask you a question this morning. Please, master, tell me, what do I have in my hands?" The master smiled and said, "My son, you have a bird in your hand." Inside, the disciple was furious. "How does he know? Who told him? The bird didn't make any sound." Outwardly, he said, "Master, I am so proud and happy. Thank you very much. Yes, I do have a bird in my hands." But he was not satisfied; his aim was to insult the master. There are some people who try to spoil things purposely. He thought, "I will ask the master a question where whatever he says will be wrong. If he says A, he is wrong. If he says B, he is wrong." He decided to ask the master if the bird in his hands was alive or dead. If the master said the bird was alive, he would squeeze his fist and kill it, then say, "Sir, you are wrong; it is a dead bird." If the master said it was dead, he would let the bird fly and say, "Sir, you are wrong; the bird is alive." So he asked, "Master, you are right, I have a bird in my hands. But can you tell me, is the bird alive or dead?" The master smiled. With great humbleness and love, he knew what was in the disciple's mind. The master said, "My son, whether the bird is dead or alive, that I cannot answer you. Because the life of the bird depends on your hands." And that is the answer to our question. Whether there will be world peace or not, it is in the hands of humans.