perspective
A Christian saint, a Sufi pir, and a Buddhist yogi journeyed down to Hades together so that they could observe for themselves the famous labors of Sisyphus. They watched him all day as he struggled to push the enormous boulder up the mountain, only to watch helplessly as it rolled back down at night.
“See how he sweats and strains all day, and for no good reason? He suffers because he’s evil,” said the saint.
The sufi disagreed. “Did you notice the faint smile on his lips as the boulder rolled down the slope? This isn’t suffering. In fact he’s happy because he loves the struggle.”
For a long time the Buddhist said nothing. Finally he quietly observed, “Sisyphus isn’t really happy or sad at all. He’s merely asleep.”
