A Guru asked his disciples how they could tell when the night had ended and the day began.

One said, "When you see an animal in the distance and can tell whether it is a cow or a horse."

"No," said the Guru.

"When you look at a tree in the distance and can tell if it is a neem tree or a mango tree."

"Wrong again," said the Guru.

"Well, then, what is it?" asked his disciples.

"When you look into the face of any man and recognize your brother in him; when you look into the face of any woman and recognize in her your sister. If you cannot do this, no matter what time it is by the sun it is still night."

Anthony De Mello
Taking Flight
Doubleday, New York 1988