When we get to these difficult impasses, it is good to return to the
Pre-Enlightenment Cycle of Didactic Stories, kind of like the Buddhists who recenter themselves by 'focusing on the breath'.
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One day, very early in the morning,
Uncle Fox made his way through the forest. As he passed the river he spied a school of big fish swimming in a deep pool. Excited, he began to fish and since they were so many the fish in the pool in no time he had 3 huge river bass.
Very pleased, he went home and said to his wife:
---
Aunt Fox! Look at the fish I caught today!
---Oh, my word! What huge river bass!---said Aunt Fox, licking her jowls with delight.
---Yep, they're so big you and I could eat just one each and there'd be one left over. And that's why I thought we'd invite
Uncle Tiger from the Forest of Ultimate Reality over for dinner. It's a good idea to keep him well-disposed, don't you think, Aunt Fox?
---I completely agree, my darling Uncle Fox! I shall fry with great delight these 3 river bass! They'll turn out very good and tasty! You run along to invite Uncle Tiger, y'hear?
Uncle Fox rubbed his paws together in satisfaction and ran off to find Uncle Tiger in the Forest of Ultimate Reality.
Aunt Fox began to fry the fish and when they were fried to perfection, they turned out so appetizing and smelled sooooo good, that she said to herself:
---I'll just give one of these bass a little 'taste-test' to make sure it's salted right. Just a tiny, itty-bitty little peice! It would be extremely impolite to have eaten before Uncle Fox got back with our esteemed guest...
So, she took a little nibble and found it so delighfully tasty that she took another, and forgetting the resolution she made, soon gobbled up the whole fish and licked the plate too.
---Oh my! That was goooood! Best if I taste Uncle fox's too, to make sure it is cooked completely through! If it weren't he might get terribly upset with me!
So, she took a nibble from the well-toasted tail, and then the left fin, and the right, and then the head, and before she realized it she'd devoured Uncle Fox's fish and licked the plate clean.
--Heavens! I ate the whole thing!--she cried---Now the damage's been done and it really doesn't matter if I finish off the last one too!
And she ate it up and licked the plate.
When Uncle Fox got back accompanied by Uncle Tiger from the Forest of Ultimate Reality he asked his wife:
---Did you fry up those river bass, honey-buns?
---I sure did! I've got them set beside the fire so they won't get cold, she lied.
---Well, serve 'em up quick 'cause me an Uncle Tiger are huuuuuuuuungry as anything! Ain't that right, Uncle Tiger?
---Without a doubt, Uncle Fox! I surely am, and with the delighful aroma of fresh fried fish that lingers here!
---I'll set the table then. You sit right here Uncle Tiger, this is your spot!
---Thank you, Aunt Fox!
So, Uncle Tiger sat down and Aunt Fox whispered to Uncle Fox:
---Go out to the patio and sharpen the knife, the bass were a little old and just a wee bit tough!
Uncle Fox ran out to the patio and in a moment heard the sound of the knife being rubbed against the sharpening stone. And Aunt Fox said to Uncle Tiger:
---Do you hear that? It's my husband sharpening the knife. Fact is,
he's gone cRaZy and he's obsessed with the idea of cutting off and eating your ears! Uncle Tiger, that is why he invited you to supper, I'm afraid to say! Escape! Escape while you can, before he comes back!
Uncle Tiger got so scared he lept up and made a dash for the door.
Then Aunt Fox began to scream at the top of her voice:
---Uncle Fox! Uncle Fox, come quick! Uncle Tiger has taken the river bass and is making his getaway!
And Uncle Fox with the carving knife in his paw, took off running after Uncle Tiger, pleading:
---Uncle Tiger, Uncle Tiger!
Just give me one! Just one!
And Uncle Tiger thinking that Uncle Fox was referring to
one of his ears ran even quicker, back to the Forest of Ultimate Reality, and didn't even stop to breathe until he had 'negotiated the Great Barrier' of the front door and locked it with all seven padlocks...