The Philosopher Who Disrespected the King
Once upon a time, in a distant Eastern kingdom where marble palaces gleamed brightly, there lived an arrogant ruler. Every single corner of the palace was furnished with golden vases, silk carpets and candlesticks inlaid with diamonds. The ruler took pride in his property and could not tolerate even the smallest stain in his palace. One day, the wisest but equally humble philosopher of the country was invited to the palace. The sage, stepping into the magnificent hall in his plain clothes, began to study the splendour around him in silence. The king, settling proudly on his throne, showed the sage the gold-plated columns and the priceless carpets. "Look, my wise friend," said the ruler, swelling with pride, "here you cannot find even a single speck of dust."
Then he smoothed his combed thick beard and, hardening his voice even more, continued his words. "I will never tolerate the slightest disrespect that would spoil the sacred cleanliness of my palace." At that very moment the philosopher, whose throat had gone dry and who felt the need to spit, looked around helplessly. His eyes slid from the silk weavings to the walls made of solid gold, and from there to the tables inlaid with diamonds. Everywhere was so dazzling and flawless that the sage did not know where to leave his spittle. He knew very well that if he soiled one of these priceless works, he would be committing a great injustice. The philosopher finally fixed his eyes on the boastful face of the king and on his long beard that swung with majesty.
Suddenly, coughing, he spat right into the middle of the gilded beard of the ruler. The king, bewildered by what had befallen him, leapt to his feet in fury and ordered his guards to throw the sage into the dungeon. Yet the philosopher smiled without losing his composure and began to speak with deep dignity. "My magnificent ruler, every object in your palace is so clean and precious that I could not bear to soil any of them." "The only worthless and dirty place I could find around me for spitting was, sadly, your arrogant beard." The proud king, frozen before this clever answer, fell silent with the shame of his own arrogance and bowed his head. Those who are blinded by material wealth cannot escape drowning in the mud of spiritual ignorance. In a low place, a hillock thinks itself a mountain.