Once upon a time, there lived two friends in a village not so far away.
Zartosht and Shervin. Both were eleven year old young kids who attended nearby small village school every day. They usually sat next to each other. The villagers were fascinated by their friendship given the polarized nature of each.
Zartosht was a very rational, rough kid. He was blunt and to the point. Everybody speculated that he had the natural ability to become a big city businessman one day. At the mere age of 11, he had already been able to secure a few deals. He would put his skills to use and earn money in return from his little gang of friends. If there was someone clever, it was definitely him.
Shervin on the other hand was a very polite, silent and a soft kid. He didn't quite like being blunt. He didn't know how to think in terms of profit and gain. For him, everything was connected in the realm that even he could not understand. It wasn't thus surprising that he didn't ever quite get into the business dealing stuff with his friends.
However, despite their differences, Shervin and Zartosht were good friends. Shervin would often warn Zartosht about his dealings, telling him to tone down his cleverness and calculations a bit.
One day, their teacher came in the classroom and introduced an old guy. The old fragile 70 year old guy was the new replacement for their class. He would now be heading all their classes and assignments, informed the former teacher.
The old guy had a very calm appearance with a slight smile. Everyone seemed intrigued by his outlook.
First day of his class, he told everyone that they will have a week long test. In the test, the kids are required to go to the nearby market and purchase a few apples daily. Whoever sustains the relationship with the vendor shall win.
The next day, Zartosht immediately sprang to action. Given his natural traits of business dealing, he was confident in winning the little test. The first day, apply vendor offered him 2 apples for 10 dinars. He was really happy. He bought them and came home. The same episode repeated with Shervin.
Both came home and compared their test cards.
Zartosht: 2 apples for 10 dinars.
Shervin: 2 apples for 10 dinars.
The following day, the apple vendor seemed grumpy. He was selling way above the normal rate. Zartosht wasn't happy, he ended up arguing with him. The vendor offered him a closed deal finally. Zartoshst hence was forced to buy 1 apple for 10 dinars. He was really frustrated. Shervin, on the other hand, did not argue with the vendor. So the vendor offered him an apple for 7 dinars.
Both came home and compared their test cards.
Zartosht: 1 apple for 10 dinars.
Shervin: 1 apple for 7 dinars.
Days went by, gradually, the vendor was getting grumpier. Zartosht couldn't take his attitude. He didn't like how he was losing on his profit. While Shervin remained patient. Shervin didn't quite like the vendor's attitude either, but he remained quiet.
Finally, one day, frustrated, Zartosht ended up fighting with Shervin. He couldn't understand why Shervin was not reacting, not doing anything about it. Shervin just smiled back, he calmed Zartosht down and told him to focus less on his profit. Zartosht...just couldn't take it.
On the final day, Zartosht and the vendor refused to even acknowledge each other.
In the class, Zartosht stood up, excitedly like a little kid ready with his complain. He complained and whined about the vendor to the old teacher. The old teacher simply smiled.
Everyone counted their apples and profits and spoke of their experiences.
The old guy then silenced the class and started, "My dear children, hope you enjoyed the game. While as it may have been tempting to earn a profit from the game, the idea was never the profit. The idea was simply and merely to test if you can sustain the relationship with the vendor or not. He was deliberately grumpy to discourage you. The vendor spoke well of Shervin. He seemed fond of Shervin."
Despite cleverness and wit, Zartosht had lost. Not because he did not have the important skills, but because he was too engrossed in using those skills to listen to the old man carefully.
Zartosht is our brain. Shervin is our heart. The apple vendor is the world.
If we put the old man in there first, if we put just One Voice in their First, the rest becomes easy.
He may ask us to do things, may ask us to be with the world when the world may or may not want us, or the world may even seem distracted from what we have to offer. Its just the world. It is that way.
He doesn't want us to just secure profits from the world. He wants us to sustain the relationship with it. Calculations of the brain can and will hinder the process. It is only the Heart with His direction that perhaps knows. We all would end up frustrated, disappointed if we start calculating the profits and the losses we make from this world. We'd be guilty or proud in comparing how we have more or they have less.
We'd just not win, not because we don't know how to, but because it is not about winning gains or running after, its about sustaining relationship with the world.
Zartosht and Shervin. Both were eleven year old young kids who attended nearby small village school every day. They usually sat next to each other. The villagers were fascinated by their friendship given the polarized nature of each.
Zartosht was a very rational, rough kid. He was blunt and to the point. Everybody speculated that he had the natural ability to become a big city businessman one day. At the mere age of 11, he had already been able to secure a few deals. He would put his skills to use and earn money in return from his little gang of friends. If there was someone clever, it was definitely him.
Shervin on the other hand was a very polite, silent and a soft kid. He didn't quite like being blunt. He didn't know how to think in terms of profit and gain. For him, everything was connected in the realm that even he could not understand. It wasn't thus surprising that he didn't ever quite get into the business dealing stuff with his friends.
However, despite their differences, Shervin and Zartosht were good friends. Shervin would often warn Zartosht about his dealings, telling him to tone down his cleverness and calculations a bit.
One day, their teacher came in the classroom and introduced an old guy. The old fragile 70 year old guy was the new replacement for their class. He would now be heading all their classes and assignments, informed the former teacher.
The old guy had a very calm appearance with a slight smile. Everyone seemed intrigued by his outlook.
First day of his class, he told everyone that they will have a week long test. In the test, the kids are required to go to the nearby market and purchase a few apples daily. Whoever sustains the relationship with the vendor shall win.
The next day, Zartosht immediately sprang to action. Given his natural traits of business dealing, he was confident in winning the little test. The first day, apply vendor offered him 2 apples for 10 dinars. He was really happy. He bought them and came home. The same episode repeated with Shervin.
Both came home and compared their test cards.
Zartosht: 2 apples for 10 dinars.
Shervin: 2 apples for 10 dinars.
The following day, the apple vendor seemed grumpy. He was selling way above the normal rate. Zartosht wasn't happy, he ended up arguing with him. The vendor offered him a closed deal finally. Zartoshst hence was forced to buy 1 apple for 10 dinars. He was really frustrated. Shervin, on the other hand, did not argue with the vendor. So the vendor offered him an apple for 7 dinars.
Both came home and compared their test cards.
Zartosht: 1 apple for 10 dinars.
Shervin: 1 apple for 7 dinars.
Days went by, gradually, the vendor was getting grumpier. Zartosht couldn't take his attitude. He didn't like how he was losing on his profit. While Shervin remained patient. Shervin didn't quite like the vendor's attitude either, but he remained quiet.
Finally, one day, frustrated, Zartosht ended up fighting with Shervin. He couldn't understand why Shervin was not reacting, not doing anything about it. Shervin just smiled back, he calmed Zartosht down and told him to focus less on his profit. Zartosht...just couldn't take it.
On the final day, Zartosht and the vendor refused to even acknowledge each other.
In the class, Zartosht stood up, excitedly like a little kid ready with his complain. He complained and whined about the vendor to the old teacher. The old teacher simply smiled.
Everyone counted their apples and profits and spoke of their experiences.
The old guy then silenced the class and started, "My dear children, hope you enjoyed the game. While as it may have been tempting to earn a profit from the game, the idea was never the profit. The idea was simply and merely to test if you can sustain the relationship with the vendor or not. He was deliberately grumpy to discourage you. The vendor spoke well of Shervin. He seemed fond of Shervin."
Despite cleverness and wit, Zartosht had lost. Not because he did not have the important skills, but because he was too engrossed in using those skills to listen to the old man carefully.
Zartosht is our brain. Shervin is our heart. The apple vendor is the world.
If we put the old man in there first, if we put just One Voice in their First, the rest becomes easy.
He may ask us to do things, may ask us to be with the world when the world may or may not want us, or the world may even seem distracted from what we have to offer. Its just the world. It is that way.
He doesn't want us to just secure profits from the world. He wants us to sustain the relationship with it. Calculations of the brain can and will hinder the process. It is only the Heart with His direction that perhaps knows. We all would end up frustrated, disappointed if we start calculating the profits and the losses we make from this world. We'd be guilty or proud in comparing how we have more or they have less.
We'd just not win, not because we don't know how to, but because it is not about winning gains or running after, its about sustaining relationship with the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment