A certain merchant sent his son with the wisest of all men to learn the Secret of Happiness. The young man walked for forty days through the desert, until he reached a beautiful castle on top of a mountain. There lived the wise man he was looking for.
However, instead of finding a holy man, our hero entered a room and saw immense activity; merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing soft melodies and a table full of the most delicious delicacies of that region of the world. The wise man talked with everyone, and the young man had to wait two hours for him to attend to him.
The wise man listened attentively to the reason for his visit, but told him that at that moment he did not have time to explain the Secret of Happiness. He suggested that she take a walk around his palace and come back two hours later.– But I want to ask you a favor added the sage, handing him a teaspoon into which he dropped two drops of oil. As you walk, carry this teaspoon and take care that the oil does not spill.
The young man began to go up and down the steps of the palace, always keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon.
After two hours, he returned to the presence of the sage.- How are you? asked the sage, Did you see the Persian tapestries in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the master gardener took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful scrolls in my library?
The young man, ashamed, confessed that he had not seen anything. His only concern had been not to spill the drops of oil that the sage had entrusted to him.– Then come back and discover the wonders of my world said the sage. You can't trust a man if you don't know his house.
Now calmer, the young man took the spoon again and walked through the palace again, this time looking carefully at all the works of art that adorned the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the mountains around him, the delicacy of the flowers, the care with which each work of art was placed in its place.
Returning to the presence of the sage, he related in detail everything he had seen.
– But where are the two drops of oil that I entrusted to you? asked the Sage.The young man looked at the spoon and realized that he had spilled them.
Well, this is the only advice I can give you. said the wisest of all wise men, The Secret of Happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world, but never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.
Human beings, we are used to admiring what is outside of us and we forget how wonderful we are. You can admire all the wonders around you but never forget to admire the wonder within you.