Vol. 11, Mysticism in Life 8. Ideal
In the deserts of Arabia there used to be a well-known robber, and when caravans passed through there they were warned beforehand that there was danger in that particular place where he lived. And once when a caravan arrived near there a man who was very anxious about his gold coins thought that it would be a good thing if he could find someone to whom he could entrust his money. He saw a tent at a distance, and when he came near he saw a most dignified man sitting there smoking his pipe. He saluted him and said, "I am anxious; I have heard that in this place there is danger of robbers, and I beg you to keep my coins in your charge." "I will do it with pleasure," said the man, and he accepted them.
And when the other rejoined the caravan he heard that there had been an attack by robbers and that they had taken all they could from everyone. He said, "Thank God for the inspiration He gave me to give my money in safe keeping!" Then later he went again to the tent to get his money back, and what did he see? He saw that this dignified man was the chief of the robbers, and that the other robbers were sitting before him dividing the spoils. He stood at a distance, fearing they would perhaps take his life now that his money was already gone. And he thought how foolish he had been to have taken the trouble to bring his money to the robbers himself!
He turned to go back, but the chief called him asking, "Why did you come, and why are you leaving?" The man said, "I thought when I gave my money to you that you would return it to me, but now I realize that you belong to the robbers who have attacked the caravan." The chief said, "What has that got to do with the money you entrusted to me? The coins which you gave into my keeping are your money. It was not robbed, it was given into my charge; I give it back to you."
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