Page 90 - The Book of Rumi

A Sackful of Pebbles

n the Arabian deserts, merchants used to travel on camels, carrying goods
Ifrom one town to another, usually in large caravans. One day, a merchant
was traveling with one such caravan when he came across a learned man, who
approached him.
“Greetings, my good man, where are you coming from and where are you
headed?” the learned man asked.
The merchant responded to the stranger candidly, whereupon he was
asked about the load he was carrying.
“I’ve got one sack fi lled with wheat and the other with pebbles,” he said
proudly.
“Why pebbles?”
“For balance, of course. Why else?”
“Why don’t you fi ll the other sack with half of the wheat rather than
burden your camel with pebbles? This way, the poor beast’s load will be half
as heavy.”
“Well done, my good man,” exclaimed the merchant with surprise. “What
a brilliant idea! Now tell me, being as clever as you are, instead of riding on
a horse or a camel, why are you walking this rough route, torturing yourself?
The merchant dismounted from his camel to offer the wise man a ride, as
he felt sorry for him, but fi rst he thought to ask him a few personal questions.
“So, tell me, being so wise, would you happen to be a governor or a
minister?”
“Oh no, I’m neither a governor nor a minister. Just take a look at my
clothes! I’m no one, just one of the common folk.”
“But you must own a few camels and cows at least, being as clever as you
are.”
“No cows nor any camels.”
“You must own a shop then. What do you sell?”
“I own no shop nor have any goods to sell.”

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