The lesson was so interesting that we never realized...

"1. Accept everything just the way it is.

2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake.

3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling.

4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world.

5. Be detached from desire your whole life long.

6. Do not regret what you have done.

7. Never be jealous.

8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation.

9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself nor others.

10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love.

11. In all things have no preferences.

12. Be indifferent to where you live.

13. Do not pursue the taste of good food.

14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need.

15. Do not act following customary beliefs.

16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful.

17. Do not fear death.

18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age.

19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help.

20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.

21. Never stray from the Way."

These words were written on class E's board. The one who wrote them that beautifully but so illegibly, as if trying to imitate some kind of calligraphy, was no other than Eduard Otto, the new philosophy teacher who had just recently started working at this high school. Swearing, shouting, screaming and other animalistic sounds could be heard inside the classroom. It was as if all those people there were not students, not even humans, but some kind of fictional creatures emerging from the Gates of Hell to conquer our planet. Mr. Otto had his usual expression of annoyance but also irritation all over his face. He knocked twice with his index finger on his desk and suddenly all those savages got calm and polite. It was as if he was using a powerful spell to tame the beasts. Or was it just the respect the students had for Mr. Otto?

- "Okay, now, would any of you be so kind as to tell me what is written on the board?" – Asked Eduard Otto hoping someone would know the answer.

- "Oh, oh! I know! This is from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War"" – Answered Yong Yi excitedly.

- "Pretty close, actually. Impressive... - Mumbled Mr. Otto who hadn't expected any of these riots to have even the smallest bit of general knowledge. – But, in fact, this is a quote from Miyamoto Masashi's "Dokkodo"— he got interrupted because of something outside that caught his eye, but continued some seconds later —"which is considered a masterpiece in Japanese philosophy. "The way" refers to the so-called "Dao" or "Tao", the way of life."

As the teacher was explaining, all students were listening to him with sparkling eyes and didn't even realize how fast the lesson had ended. Before leaving the classroom Mr. Otto knocked twice more with his index finger on his desk.

- "Oh, look, guys! The lesson was so interesting that we never realized when it had started raining!" – Exclaimed one of the girls, while approaching the window to close it.

And so, every lesson went the same way: Beginning with the students going crazy in the classroom, then Mr. Otto calming them down, teaching them foreign philosophies and the inspired students listening to him without noticing anything else in their range.

Until one day...

The teacher was talking about Greek philosophy, more accurately about Plato's concept of metaphysics, but suddenly something strange outside caught his attention. He looked kind of shocked but his eyes were saying that he had seen this before.

- "Uhh, okay, class, today's lesson will finish sooner so have a break." – Said Mr. Otto and quickly went out of the classroom but of course did not forget to knock twice on the desk.

The students were surprised but when they looked out of the window, they saw something rather unusual...

- "Wow!! The lesson was so interesting that we never realized the end of the world had come!"