I was cycling in the upper recesses of the Himalayas and stayed over for a couple of nights in a monk’s hermitage. Over morning tea, two local guests questioned him about sharing his opinion on an issue of political interest.
He asked them back, What do you have to do with this? If I say in favor or against, how will that make any material difference in their lives? Don’t you have your own problems to solve?
People consider it their right to ask seemingly profound questions or look intellectual in the presence of a wise man.
I couldn’t control my laughter and narrated a Zen story from Hakuin’s life.