Page 71 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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and comfortable. It is like chasing a mirage in order to quench your thirst.
If you were to study your life and the lives of people around you, you would realize that “more” doesn’t necessarily mean “happier.” A person who is poor thinks that if only he had suf cient money, he would be happy. But the moment he becomes more prosperous, he wants to have more and more and never feels contented. Normally, as wealth increases, discontent increases in direct proportion, unless you have developed spiritual insight. A simple parable is told that illustrates this point.
The Entanglement of “99”
There was once a blacksmith who enjoyed his work immensely, and although he labored very hard, he continued singing joyfully as he worked. When his wealthy neighbor heard him singing, he became extremely jealous. “How can it be,” the neighbor thought to himself, “that with all my wealth, I can’t even sleep due to worries and anxiety, and yet my blacksmith neighbor, who is less fortunate, is always so happy? Though he works very hard, hammering iron sheets close to a hot re, he enjoys his life and his work!” Unable to bear this situation a moment longer, the jealous neighbor thought and thought, and then came up with a simple plan.
Putting his scheme into effect, the wealthy neighbor secretly threw a bag containing ninety-