The Merchant and His son
Once upon a time there was a wealthy merchant. He was rich beyond imagination. But nobody knew where his wealth came from Like the Count of Monte Cristo. He lived in a mansion in a vast land which was so big, that it extended either side as eyes can see. As everyone with a life, his life approached zero. Awaiting inevitable he wanted to give his wealth to his only son. His son however was a little egoic arrogant idiot. After all he was the rich kid. Yet, the merchant did not want to make him prouder of so much wealth. Near his death, he whispered into his son's ears, on his last breath.
"Listen to me son, listen to me carefully. I think you are worth to have all my wealth. I have hidden it in my land. Don't tell this secret to anyone. "
The son was eager.
And the merchant continued.
"So, to get this wealth you have to go to the right-hand side entrance to the palace, with a bow and arrow. And from there you have to drop an arrow facing East. You will find my wealth where the arrow is fallen."
And after revealing his secret the merchant died.
With dreams of becoming a wealthy man, his son started to search for merchant's wealth. Even before his funeral!
He went to the right-wing entrance of the mansion with his bow, faced east and shot an arrow. It flew past the fence and tree line into the barren land. He started to dig, with his men. They dug for days, so deep a hole that it started to fill with water. But there was no treasure.
He became desperate and came back to the entrance and shot another arrow. He dug a hole and yet again found no hidden treasure.
He dug his land like a mad man. Day after day month after month and within few months, he did not have money to pay for his workers. He sold pieces of land. One by one, for even cheap prize as he thought he would find the treasure one day. Yet he did not. And after some years, only thing left was his father's old mansion. He was seen often in local taverns, cursing the wise merchant for ruining his life. His secret was no secret no more, as everyone knew there was no hidden treasure.
One day a wise young merchant came to town for some business. And he met the Drunkard son of the wise deceased merchant at the tavern. Knowing he is wealthy, merchant's son wanted to sell the old mansion to this new guy. After discussing the deeds, inspecting the property. Young merchant agreed and closed the deal. He well knew the old merchant, who was wise was never a liar. So, he wanted to try his luck. By that time everyone in the town knew about the story of bow and arrow.
With a new bow and arrow the wise merchant went to the right wing of the mansion; he faced east and dropped his arrow. And it fell right between his feet! And that was the only place that there was no hole, as far as he could see were mines!
He started to dig the entrance and soon found a secret door to underground tunnel, where the old merchant's wealth was hidden.
And this wise man, wasn't greedy at all. He gave what the arrogant son deserved and helped him to be better of himself.
Mindfulness wisdom from the Story of the Merchant
For someone story of the merchant can be about being wise. You can ask a kid to be wise like the new merchant and be clever. You can ask a kid to not to become like a grumpy son of the old merchant. Yet there is more deeper meaning to the story. I think this second meaning have practical value to the mindfulness.
Remind what the old man said. He said, "When you are at the correct place drop the arrow. And find your fortune."
In mindfulness practice we tend to carry information that we gather from master's and teachers, dig ourselves holes everywhere in our gardens. If we compare the information sphere to the arrow, to know the truth, to gain wisdom we have to drop everything we have learnt. Drop the past, drop the future, and investigate the so called now. The one who looks outside dreams one who looks inside awakens, yet again.
You might have read previous articles in this blog, maybe this is your first. If I tell you that, everything in this blog is not going to give you wisdom, and in a way is a web of lies, that wouldn't be a lie either (this doesn't mean it is not helpful in anyway). As always you have to drop and look at yourself. And for the one who drops everything, there is a prize.
And true prize of nothingness will be there.
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