A student came to the teacher and complained:
“Master, I am despised by everyone in our circle, and this makes my life unbearable.” I would like to stop this unless you order me to endure it any longer.
“There is nothing simpler,” said the Teacher. “The next time we practice contemplation, come quietly to me and whisper something in my ear.” I'll whisper back to you.
A miracle happened. The last student became the most respected after the Master, for who else is allowed to whisper with the Master during exercises? However, after some time, the students turned to the Master:
- Oh, Master, teacher of Eternity, are we not allowed to hear what you whisper to your beloved student, for we are as diligent and obedient as he?
The master did not object, and this is what the students heard:
-Can you hide your bulging eyes?
- Yes.
- Okay, what did you earn?
- Ten.
- And what have you lost?
- Five.
— What happened to 32?
- 29 at home.
This left the students completely confused, and after much debate they turned to their “favorite” for an explanation.
- It's very simple. Master wanted to show you how susceptible you are to superficial things, and he whispered in my ear. You decided that this was a sign of attention and began to treat me differently.
- But what did the encrypted conversation mean?
- He didn't touch you. I earned ten gold and “lost” five on my son’s education.
- But 32 probably meant the number of some important people?
— 32 are my teeth. I only have 29 left, so you could say they're "at home."
“So,” said the students, “he’s probably leading us by the nose.” We didn't ask him about the very first question. Tell us, what was the meaning of the first question?
“I will answer only after you give me the gold.”
Once his request was granted, he said:
- The bulging eyes are your eyes. They are bulging with greed. I harness them with the help of curiosity, for this is precisely what governs trivial minds.
- But what lesson should we learn from this? - they exclaimed in anguish.
— The lesson is this: greed, both in the material and spiritual world, leads only to banal pleasures. It prevents you from developing and interferes with higher understanding. And it can only be dispelled by showing you how trivial your thoughts are.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru