The Parable of the Treasure Hunter
Fiction: A parable about the greatest treasure in all of existence
A man once lived who sought to find the most precious treasure in all of existence.
He lived in the greatest city on earth where four mighty rivers met. To find the treasure, he planned a journey by boat to search. But he did not know which river led in the correct direction. Should he sail north, east, west or south?
He asked everyone he met which way to sail, but nobody could tell him. Sailors returning from the north talked of the vast resources of the great forests, and the big game animals that lived in the north. Those returning from the east spoke of silk, and spices, and substances, such as opium, which would one could take and escape to a facsimile of bliss.
But this man sought true bliss, so he kept asking. Those returning from the south brought back riches, diamonds and gold. And those from the west talked of vast untamed lands, full of beautiful vistas and unlimited fertile land. But none of these, admittedly precious resources, sounded like the most precious treasure imaginable.
Then, one day, the man heard of a master sage who lived at the top of the highest mountain just outside of the city. So he trekked for days and days until, exhausted, he reached the top of the mountain. He knocked on the master’s door, but nobody answered. So he walked around the house and found the master sitting behind his house, in meditation with his eyes closed.
Before the man could speak, the master said, "you have a question for me, do you not?"
"Yes" replied the treasure seeker.
"Please ask it."
"Master, I seek to find the most precious treasure in all of existence. I have asked sailors from all directions of the compass but I still have no idea which way to go. Should I sail on the the great river that goes north, or the one that goes east, or the one that flows south to the diamonds and gold, or should I brave the one that goes west to fertile valleys?"
The master smiled and replied:
"Are not all rivers composed of living water that begins and ends in the ocean?"
"I don't understand" replied the seeker.
"Once you understand of what I speak," replied the master, "You will have found the most precious treasure in all of existence"
And with that, the master closed his eyes.
