In ancient times, in a certain trading city there lived an official. One day, when he was walking through the market square, some strange ragamuffin quickly approached him and, shouting swear words, spat in the official’s face and ran away.
The official could not bear the shame and fell ill. He would have died that way, but his friends sent for a doctor who was famous for his ability to heal mental wounds. The doctor gave the patient five medicines and ordered him to take one of them every night, waking up at the appointed hour.
Night has come. The official took his first medicine, and he dreamed of the market square and how the ragamuffin spat in his face. From unbearable humiliation and shame, the patient screamed terribly and woke up.
The next night he took the second medicine and again had the same dream, but instead of shame he felt a chilling fear.
The official had the same dream on the third night, but there was no longer any fear or shame, but he felt deep sadness. The official was surprised, but decided to follow the instructions to the end and the next night he took the fourth medicine. Of course, he saw the same dream again, but this dream was no longer as painful as the previous nights, and the official felt only a feeling of slight surprise.
On the fifth night, unexpectedly for himself, the official experienced joy.
Not knowing what to think, he got out of bed and immediately went to the doctor for advice and new medicines.
- How did you feel after taking my potions? - asked the healer.
“All the nights I had the same dream about how the ragamuffin spat at me,” the official answered, “but every night this dream evoked in me a new feeling: I felt either shame, then fear, then sadness, then surprise.” And on the last night I felt joy and still feel it. Now I'm confused and don't understand what I should really feel?
Hearing the official, the doctor laughed and said:
“It doesn’t matter what happened to you if you can treat it the way you see fit.” After all, it depends only on your choice whether you will be happy or upset for any reason. As for spitting in the face, a wise person would simply not pay attention to it, especially since your offender is crazy, and his spitting is no more offensive to you than a gust of wind that dusted your eyes with dust.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru