Herakles was making his way through a narrow pass when he spotted something on the ground that looked like an apple. He decided to crush it. To his surprise, when he stepped on it, it doubled in size. When he saw this, Herakles stamped on it more violently than before and struck it with his club. He was shocked to see the object swell in volume and become so big that it blocked the road. Herakles dropped his club and stood staring in amazement.

Athena appeared before him, saying, "Stop brother. This thing is the spirit of dispute and quarrels. If you leave it alone it stays just as it was before. But if you fight it, see how it blows up."

Reprinted with permission from Olivia and Robert Temple, from The Complete Fables, by Aesop, translated by Olivia and Robert Temple, 1998, Penguin Books Ltd, 27 Wrights Lane, London 5TZ, England.

Q: Do you always react when someone else is rude or abusive, or do you respond without reaction? Chariji says, "We should not react…..every reaction is ego". How do you think it is possible to not react?

Q: Can you see current examples in your personal life, your community, your country or the world, where violence and hatred have been countered with more violence and hatred from the victim? What happens? Is it like the object in the story, growing bigger and bigger?

Q: How can you apply the principles of Maxims Five, Six and Seven to this story?

O, Master!
Thou art the real goal of human life.
We are yet but slaves of wishes
Putting bar to our advancement,
Thou art the only God and power
To bring us up to that stage.