; ; The two drops of oil
A merchant sent his son to learn the Secret of Happiness from the wisest of all men. The boy walked for forty days in the desert until he reached a beautiful castle atop a mountain. There lived the sage that the boy was looking for.
instead of finding a saintly man, though, our hero entered a room and saw a flurry of activity: merchants coming and going, people chatting in the corners, a small orchestra playing sweet melodies, and then c 'was a table laden with the most delectable dishes of that region of the world.
The wise man talked to everybody, and the boy had wait two hours until it was his turn to be received.
With great patience, he listened attentively to the reason for the visit of the boy, but said that at that time had no time to explain the Secret of Happiness.
He suggested a walk in his palace and come back in two hours.
- However, I would like to ask you a favor - he added, handing the boy a teaspoon, in which he poured two drops of oil. - As you walk, carry this spoon without spilling the oil.
The boy began to ascend and descend the stairs of the palace, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. He spent the two hours he returned to the sage.
- So - asked the sage - did you see the Persian tapestries that are in my dining room? Did you see the garden that the Master of Gardeners took ten years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?
The boy, ashamed, confessed that he had seen nothing. His only concern was not to spill the drops of oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.
- Then go back and see the wonders of my world - said the wise man. - You can not trust a man if he does not know his house.
Now more at ease, the young man took the spoon and strolled again through the palace, this time paying attention to all the works of art hanging from the ceiling and walls. He saw the gardens, the surrounding mountains, the delicacy of flowers, the taste with which each work of art was placed to the right place. Returning to the sage, he reported in detail everything he saw.
- But where are the two drops of oil I entrusted to you? - Asked the sage. Looking
the spoon, the young man realized that he had spilled.
- Well, this is the only advice I have to give - said the sage of sages. - The secret of happiness lies in looking at all the wonders of the world and never forgetting the two drops of oil in the spoon.
Paulo Coelho, from "The Alchemist"
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