There once lived a young man who felt he had been through a lot in life and yet couldn't find the path to eternal bliss. He decided to travel to get his answers. He came across many rich, old people who regretted not enjoying their younger days; he also came across several poor people of all ages, who could not wait to get rid of each other for the promise of money. Frustrated with the ways of the world, he decided to pursue spirituality and sought a mentor. A friend of his, who traded rare artifacts in unknown lands told him about the 'Sage on the hill-top', who has guided not only himself but many of his merchant friends too.
So, the young man set out on another journey along with his merchant friend to meet the 'Sage on the hill-top'. After travelling for forty days and forty nights, surviving bandits on the way, who sadly, killed his merchant friend, the young man arrived at a place called the 'Hermit Hill'. Weak from the journey and exhausted from the trauma, he passed out at the foot of the hill.
Morning rays of the bright sun stung his eyes when he woke up, only to see everything has changed around him. He was no longer surrounded by jagged mountain rocks or dry shrubs. What he saw around him made him spell-bound that he could do nothing but keep looking for his eyes couldn't feast enough.
It was too big to be a mansion, it seemed endless and ivory pillars shot into the air so high that there were people on the floors above who looked like tiny minions from where the young man was standing. All around him, strands of gold glistened to shine light into every creak and corner, on all the dishes and plates which in return reflected back, giving the entire atmosphere an eerie glow. People, of all walks of life and all ages, stood in a long queue, waiting patiently. Some were roaming about chatting away gayly or feasting on the desserts. The entire building seemed never-ending with rooms merging into one another and it seemed people were everywhere.
Our young man helped himself to some apples and sweets and was drowning a jug of water when two people approached him. The younger one seemed a little pumped with temerity and the older one looked tired. They both had similar features and apparently were father and son. The father said, "Hello, you're conscious! We found you at the foothills and brought you here for some medical care. Are you feeling alright? What's your name?"
The young man replied, "I'm grateful for your hospitality. My name's Krya. I was looking for the 'Sage on the hill-top' before being attacked by a band of bandits and was lost with exhaustion when I collapsed near the hill."
The son, who was looking at Krya a little judgingly relaxed, "It's a good thing we found you. 'Seems you weren't lost after all. This is the sanctuary of the 'Sage on the hill-top'; you might probably meet him if you follow this queue."
Krya thanked the duo and started to walk towards the front. As he walked, he wondered, 'What kind of sage lives in a mansion and calls it a sanctuary? Could he really be a sage or is this all some hoax? Will I find the answer to my question here? Should I even ask the question?' Abruptly, he was stopped by a woman who hinted at him to follow her and when he did so, he understood he was being taken to the chambers of the Sage on the hill-top.
The room itself seemed benign compared to the other areas he had glanced upon while walking and the sage himself was dressed in princely clothes and looked pretty confident with a wide smile on his face. The age disappeared from the face and it was hard to say whether he was middle-aged or really old. Krya hesitantly stepped forward assessing Sage's knowledge. "I see you hadn't had an opportunity to experience the bounties of life. What troubles you?" asked the Sage, encircling Krya in a warm embrace.
Krya shrugged, a little uncomfortable and asked, "I want to enjoy the fruits of my labour without the wait-period. I'm sick of being told to extol in work without expecting rewards. How do I achieve all this?"
The Sage nodded wisely, "Before I answer your question, I'd like you to tour my Sanctuary For All and let go of yourselves. Indulge in all your fancies and don't worry about price or repair. Treat yourselves, I insist."
Krya wanted to decline but at Sage's insistence, he left the place and toured around all the halls of plenty. There was a room for every fancy. People occupied all the rooms. Literature, Art, Astronomy, Prophecies, Geography, Science, Garden, etc.. were some of the rooms that Krya spent some time in. It took the whole day for him to finish the whole mansion and at night he picked one of the bedrooms and slept in it.
Came the next morning, Krya was greeted by breakfast in bed and freshly pressed clothes and he was an energized new man on a quest and his treasure is close at last. He is sure to get his answer today. When he went to see the Sage, he was surprised to find that the Sage had a task for him. Krya was more than happy to oblige as Sage's mansion provided him with enough contentment for at least a little while. The task was to carry a tea-spoon of oil in his hand and do exactly what he did yesterday. To roam all the mansion but to not spill the oil.
Krya was meticulous this time, he had already planned the route to take to avoid many crowds and hurried on his way with the spoonful of oil in his hand. This time, he didn't see much of what is going on around him and was unable to party or dance for the oil-spoon hindered him. Finally, when he made it back to Sage's chamber, he had but spilled just one or two drops of oil in the spoon and felt exhausted.
The Sage on hill-top beckoned him closer and said in a deep voice, "What you want in life is balance. You must learn to enjoy the activities happening around in the sanctuary but also make sure to not spill the oil in your spoon. That's when you will have true contentment."
Krya was amazed and reflected deeply on the sage's statement on his way home. After all, the sage was not a hoax, he smiled to himself satisfied with his quest.
So, the young man set out on another journey along with his merchant friend to meet the 'Sage on the hill-top'. After travelling for forty days and forty nights, surviving bandits on the way, who sadly, killed his merchant friend, the young man arrived at a place called the 'Hermit Hill'. Weak from the journey and exhausted from the trauma, he passed out at the foot of the hill.
Morning rays of the bright sun stung his eyes when he woke up, only to see everything has changed around him. He was no longer surrounded by jagged mountain rocks or dry shrubs. What he saw around him made him spell-bound that he could do nothing but keep looking for his eyes couldn't feast enough.
It was too big to be a mansion, it seemed endless and ivory pillars shot into the air so high that there were people on the floors above who looked like tiny minions from where the young man was standing. All around him, strands of gold glistened to shine light into every creak and corner, on all the dishes and plates which in return reflected back, giving the entire atmosphere an eerie glow. People, of all walks of life and all ages, stood in a long queue, waiting patiently. Some were roaming about chatting away gayly or feasting on the desserts. The entire building seemed never-ending with rooms merging into one another and it seemed people were everywhere.
Our young man helped himself to some apples and sweets and was drowning a jug of water when two people approached him. The younger one seemed a little pumped with temerity and the older one looked tired. They both had similar features and apparently were father and son. The father said, "Hello, you're conscious! We found you at the foothills and brought you here for some medical care. Are you feeling alright? What's your name?"
The young man replied, "I'm grateful for your hospitality. My name's Krya. I was looking for the 'Sage on the hill-top' before being attacked by a band of bandits and was lost with exhaustion when I collapsed near the hill."
The son, who was looking at Krya a little judgingly relaxed, "It's a good thing we found you. 'Seems you weren't lost after all. This is the sanctuary of the 'Sage on the hill-top'; you might probably meet him if you follow this queue."
Krya thanked the duo and started to walk towards the front. As he walked, he wondered, 'What kind of sage lives in a mansion and calls it a sanctuary? Could he really be a sage or is this all some hoax? Will I find the answer to my question here? Should I even ask the question?' Abruptly, he was stopped by a woman who hinted at him to follow her and when he did so, he understood he was being taken to the chambers of the Sage on the hill-top.
The room itself seemed benign compared to the other areas he had glanced upon while walking and the sage himself was dressed in princely clothes and looked pretty confident with a wide smile on his face. The age disappeared from the face and it was hard to say whether he was middle-aged or really old. Krya hesitantly stepped forward assessing Sage's knowledge. "I see you hadn't had an opportunity to experience the bounties of life. What troubles you?" asked the Sage, encircling Krya in a warm embrace.
Krya shrugged, a little uncomfortable and asked, "I want to enjoy the fruits of my labour without the wait-period. I'm sick of being told to extol in work without expecting rewards. How do I achieve all this?"
The Sage nodded wisely, "Before I answer your question, I'd like you to tour my Sanctuary For All and let go of yourselves. Indulge in all your fancies and don't worry about price or repair. Treat yourselves, I insist."
Krya wanted to decline but at Sage's insistence, he left the place and toured around all the halls of plenty. There was a room for every fancy. People occupied all the rooms. Literature, Art, Astronomy, Prophecies, Geography, Science, Garden, etc.. were some of the rooms that Krya spent some time in. It took the whole day for him to finish the whole mansion and at night he picked one of the bedrooms and slept in it.
Came the next morning, Krya was greeted by breakfast in bed and freshly pressed clothes and he was an energized new man on a quest and his treasure is close at last. He is sure to get his answer today. When he went to see the Sage, he was surprised to find that the Sage had a task for him. Krya was more than happy to oblige as Sage's mansion provided him with enough contentment for at least a little while. The task was to carry a tea-spoon of oil in his hand and do exactly what he did yesterday. To roam all the mansion but to not spill the oil.
Krya was meticulous this time, he had already planned the route to take to avoid many crowds and hurried on his way with the spoonful of oil in his hand. This time, he didn't see much of what is going on around him and was unable to party or dance for the oil-spoon hindered him. Finally, when he made it back to Sage's chamber, he had but spilled just one or two drops of oil in the spoon and felt exhausted.
The Sage on hill-top beckoned him closer and said in a deep voice, "What you want in life is balance. You must learn to enjoy the activities happening around in the sanctuary but also make sure to not spill the oil in your spoon. That's when you will have true contentment."
Krya was amazed and reflected deeply on the sage's statement on his way home. After all, the sage was not a hoax, he smiled to himself satisfied with his quest.
Moral: Count your pennies for every pound spent.
