The Blind Sadhu of Swayambhu

On the hill of Swayambhu, where the great stupa's painted eyes look out over the whole Kathmandu Valley in all four directions, there lived an old sadhu who had been blind since birth. He sat at the base of the stupa each morning and each evening, and people climbed the long staircase of 365 steps to ask him questions.

He was famous not for answering correctly — he sometimes got things entirely wrong — but for asking back a better question than the one he had been asked.

A merchant came to him once, worried about a business deal. "Should I trust my partner or not?"

The sadhu was quiet, then said: "Have you ever watched the monkeys at this stupa steal fruit and each other?"

"Yes," said the merchant, confused.

"Do you trust the monkeys?"

"No."

"Do you enjoy watching them anyway?"

The merchant left without an answer, but he was smiling.

A young woman came to him, heartbroken over a man who had left her. "Will I ever stop feeling this?"

The sadhu tilted his head toward Swayambhu'