“Many years ago, in China there were two friends, one played the harp very well, and the other one was very good at listening.

When the first player and sang about a mountain, the second one said: “I can see the mountain, a seat was in front of us”. When the first played about a brook, the one who heard about this added: “I can hear the water flowing!”

The one who listened, got sick and died. The first friend cut his chords harp and he never played it again. Since that time cutting the harp chords has always been a sign of great friendship”

Da 101 Storie Zen

Adelphi Editore, pag. 92, “Veri amici”

“We played the flute
and you have not danced
we sang a moaning
and you didn’t cry”

Vengelo secondo Matteo, 11,7.