The Orthodox Heretic: Betrayal

This tale is about a temple master who has poured his life and teaching into a young disciple but was concerned that he would not reach enlightenment. One day he pulled this young disciples aside and told him that he was worried that one day he would betray his teachings. The young disciple vehemently denied this accusation by saying that there was not a time in the day when one of the teachings of the master were not on his mind. In fact he studied the teachings of the master so that he could be faithful to them at all times. The master replied that the fact that he has never betrayed his teachings and swears to never do that, is in fact to betray him.

Here we are encountered with the interplay between teaching and letting go. Any good teacher wants their students to surpass them and forge their own way. The teacher is in fact wanting the student to exhibit a faithful betrayal.