In a dream, I played ping pong against a formidable opponent. I had played against this opponent many times before in practice and we were a good match. This game was for competition in an arena in front of many people.

When I stepped into the arena, I noticed immediately that one thing was different: the table was slanted at a forty-five degree angle. I played from the side of the table that was on higher ground. It was my serve to begin. I lost four of the first five points. Then it was my opponent’s serve. I lost the next two points. I threw up my hands in disgust. I shouted to the crowd. They were all children, sitting cross-legged and watching curiously like they were in school.

I shouted, “Why can I not beat this opponent? Who I have beaten before. Did he know ahead of time that the table would be slanted? And practiced beforehand.”

“No!” all the students said in unison.

“Because he is a more experienced player than me?” I shouted again.

“No!” all the students said in unison again.

“Why then?” I shouted back.

Then from the crowd, appeared an old sage, and he said to me, “It is because you are not a good leader.”

I was confused and silent.

“You must care for the bunny, before you get the bunny,” said the old sage [this is the only part of the dream I cannot remember word-for-word, it was something about a bunny, something that surprised me].

I had a feeling of deja-vu, like I had heard that before.

“What text does that come from?” I asked the children.

They all thought about it. One boy raised his hand and answered, “The Dhammapada.”