A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret
of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high
atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.
of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high
atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.
Rather
than finding a saintly man though, our young lad, on entering the main room of
the castle, saw a hive of activity tradesmen came and went, people were
conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there
was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of
the world.
than finding a saintly man though, our young lad, on entering the main room of
the castle, saw a hive of activity tradesmen came and went, people were
conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there
was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of
the world.
The
wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but
told him that he didn’t have just then to explain the secret of happiness.
wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but
told him that he didn’t have just then to explain the secret of happiness.
He
suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.
Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something, said the wise man, handing the
boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. As you wander around, carry this
spoon without allowing the oil to spill.
suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours.
Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something, said the wise man, handing the
boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. As you wander around, carry this
spoon without allowing the oil to spill.
The
boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the castle, keeping his
eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise
man was. Well, said the wise man, did you see the Persian tapestries that are
hanging in the dining hall? Did you see the garden that took the master
gardener 10 years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my
library?.
boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the castle, keeping his
eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise
man was. Well, said the wise man, did you see the Persian tapestries that are
hanging in the dining hall? Did you see the garden that took the master
gardener 10 years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my
library?.
The
boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only
concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only
concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
Then
go back and observe the marvels of my world, said the wise man. Relieved, the
boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this
time observing all the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the
gardens and the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers. Upon
returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.
go back and observe the marvels of my world, said the wise man. Relieved, the
boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this
time observing all the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the
gardens and the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers. Upon
returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.
But
where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you, asked the wise man. Looking down
at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. Well, there is only
one piece of advice I can give you, said the wisest of wise men. The secret of
happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops
of oil on the spoon.
where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you, asked the wise man. Looking down
at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. Well, there is only
one piece of advice I can give you, said the wisest of wise men. The secret of
happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops
of oil on the spoon.
This
story serves as just a little reminder that while we get all caught up in the
frenzy of work and assignments, we mustn’t forget about the drops of oil, the
things in life that really matter… friends, family, kids… and the ties that
bind..
story serves as just a little reminder that while we get all caught up in the
frenzy of work and assignments, we mustn’t forget about the drops of oil, the
things in life that really matter… friends, family, kids… and the ties that
bind..
Mums&Babies