As Alter Idem turns twelve today, one part of me wants to quit this space.... and, another wants to trudge along!! Well--- the year I forget to write this obligatory birthday post , I will quit... Today's short story is from Zen teachings. Four friends, on a week's vow of silence, managed to keep it for a couple of days. And then, on a particularly dark and scary evening, Friend 1 asked a passing servant to light a few lamps. Friend 2 instinctively reminded him about the vow. Immediately, Friend 3 chided both of them for breaking the vow, while Friend 4 gloated that so far, he had been able to keep the vow --- a story that tells us how important it is to focus our thoughts if we want to achieve our goals.... Now, most of you would have come across this story. What you don't know, of course, is a somewhat similar story I had heard as a child. I will share it --- even though it is an improper one and quite cringy. Dear reader, please treat the following story as a refle