Conditional Reality

Cornstalk Waterfall owned only a cup, for drinking water, and a cloak, for modesty. One day he saw a man drinking water from his cupped hands. Cornstalk realized his own cup was superfluous so he gave it away. Then he saw another man walking the streets naked. Cornstalk considered the beauty of the man and his way of living and donated his cloak to charity. He then encountered a man without arms. Cornstalk discarded his own arms. People stared at Cornstalk. Cornstalk looked back. Seeing nothing in their eyes, Cornstalk offered passersby his own soul. None accepted, none felt deprived.