My friend,
Do not force these words;
I cannot tell you,
I do not want to injure you--
--And they are sharp.
But for what you say, you speak nothings.
You say, "I care not what people think,"
and yet you ask that they share their beliefs.
You preach, "Everyone should be open and free,"
but you get offended by those who choose bondage and close mindedness.
You care what people think of you
as much as you care that they think of you.
You spew your opinions in hopes that they care
or that you can convince them to join you.
But as you do, you alienate them
and they run from you.
I respect you, but I disagree with you,
in fact, I think you disrespect me at times in this.
Even still: You are my friend.
I do care what people think.
Not always what they think about me,
but what they are thinking about.
And you,
your biggest flaw is
that you don't listen to the beating of the water in the trees around you,
Which you could hear, if only you were quiet.
What you seek, "To know what is in peoples' souls,"
that comes only by first listening.
Second, you must understand.
And to understand, you must know what people think,
what they care about, what they believe in.
You must know from what road they have traveled,
and what they think of you.
Can they trust you? Should they trust you with their secrets?
What is in a person's soul is most sacred,
it is that which Is.
How can you understand another's soul if you do not know you own?
You do not know this;
Don't speak,
Listen.
Then Understand.
You spew your opinions in hopes that they care
or that you can convince them to join you.
But as you do, you alienate them
and they run from you.
I respect you, but I disagree with you,
in fact, I think you disrespect me at times in this.
Even still: You are my friend.
I do care what people think.
Not always what they think about me,
but what they are thinking about.
And you,
your biggest flaw is
that you don't listen to the beating of the water in the trees around you,
Which you could hear, if only you were quiet.
What you seek, "To know what is in peoples' souls,"
that comes only by first listening.
Second, you must understand.
And to understand, you must know what people think,
what they care about, what they believe in.
You must know from what road they have traveled,
and what they think of you.
Can they trust you? Should they trust you with their secrets?
What is in a person's soul is most sacred,
it is that which Is.
How can you understand another's soul if you do not know you own?
You do not know this;
Don't speak,
Listen.
Then Understand.
